NHTSA safety recall

Recall 81V099000

Trailer Hitches — Freightliner · reported 25 Aug 1981 · 70 vehicles potentially affected

What's wrong

THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE PORTION OF THE TOWING ATTACHMENT MAY HAVE A DEFECTIVE WELD IN A CRITICAL AREA. IF THE TRAILER HITCH SHOULD BECOME UNLATCHED OR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING THE TRUCK AND TRAILER TO BECOME SEPARATED, THE RESULTING FORCES COULD CAUSE A FAILURE OF THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE. A FAILURE OF THIS PART WOULD ALLOW COMPLETE SEPARATION OF THE TRUCK AND TRAILER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

The fix

UPON SEPARATION, THE TRAILER WOULD TRAVEL OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM COULD BRING IT TO A STOP. A VEHICLE ACCIDENT COULD RESULT. CORRECTIVE ACTION: THE SAFETY CHAIN BALE WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS WITH TOW HITCH.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; SAFETY CHAIN BALE.

NHTSA campaign
81V099000
Filed by
Freightliner Corp.
Report received
25 Aug 1981
Owners notified
7 Jul 1983
Potentially affected
70

Vehicles covered by this recall

Whether a particular car is affected and still unrepaired depends on its VIN — a model year being listed does not mean every car of that year is included. Check any VIN free on CarLogs, or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

1979 Freightliner Freightliner 1980 Freightliner Freightliner 1981 Freightliner Freightliner

Is this car's recall fixed?

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, for the life of the vehicle. A CarLogs report shows the recall status for a specific VIN as reported by the manufacturer — whether it's open or repaired, and whether the fix is available yet.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall database. Look up another campaign →