Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assemblyRecall 15V-616 · Freightliner vehicles
Daimler Trucks North America LLC recall 15V-616 covers 5,801 Freightliner vehicles for a trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly problem, reported to NHTSA on October 1, 2015. The manufacturer's latest report (2017 Q1) shows 27% of affected vehicles repaired.
Source: NHTSA recall 15V616000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by the manufacturer.
The problem
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2014 Cascadia, Business Class M2, Coronado, and Columbia Glider vehicles manufactured April 5, 2010, to June 15, 2013. The affected trucks are equipped with Fontaine Ultra LT Fifth Wheel connectors, which, due to cumulative damage to the fifth wheel and its locking mechanism, have a locking mechanism that may fail to operate or to properly engage.
The risk
If the fifth wheel and locking mechanism are sufficiently damaged, the locking mechanism may fail to operate as intended and the trailer may unexpectedly detach from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix
DTNA will notify owners, and DTNA authorized service facilities will replace the fifth wheel with an Ultra NT model fifth wheel, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-692.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fast cars are being fixed
27%repaired
Share of affected vehicles repaired in each quarterly report the manufacturer filed with NHTSA.
Vehicles in this recall
Built from April 5, 2010 to June 15, 2013. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.