Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assemblyRecall 08V-190 · Kenworth vehicles

PACCAR INCORPORATED recall 08V-190 covers 3,573 Kenworth vehicles for a trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly problem, reported to NHTSA on April 25, 2008.

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Vehicles repairedNo manufacturer report yet
Vehicles affected3,5735 models
ReportedApr 25, 2008Owners notified May 30, 2008
Complaints since1Same system, after the recall

Source: NHTSA recall 08V190000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.

What's wrong

The problem

PACCAR IS RECALLING 3,573 MY 2007 KENWORTH C500, T800, T600, T2000, AND W900 CHASSIS BUILT WITH PHILLIPS QCS II TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION AND TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKET WITH 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT. CERTAIN TRAILER CABLE MOUNTING BRACKETS HAVE A 'U-SHAPED' CUT OUT THAT ONLY PARTIALLY SUPPORTS THE TRAILER CABLE CONNECTION. PARTIAL SUPPORT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION MAY ALLOW THE MOLDED BOOT AND ELECTRICAL GROUND PIN TO PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY PULL AWAY FROM THE 7-WAY SOCKET. PARTIAL OR COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE CABLE CONNECTION CAN CAUSE REDUCED WATER RESISTANCE AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL GROUND. THERE IS ALSO A POSSIBILITY THE TRAILER LIGHTS MAY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT THE OPERATOR'S KNOWLEDGE.

The risk

IF THIS CONDITION WERE TO OCCUR, OTHER MOTORISTS MAY NOT BE WARNED OF THE TRACTOR/TRAILER MOVEMENTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

What to do

The fix

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE FLEXIBLE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, AND REATTACH THE SUPPORTING BOLTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY MAY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KENWORTH AT 1-425-828-5440.

KENWORTH RECALL NO. 08KW6.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Background

The investigation behind this recall

  1. TRAILER LIGHT PLUG FAILUREPE08011 · closed May 5, 2008
    NHTSA