CERTAIN HIDDEN HITCH BRAND HITCH RECEIVERS MANUFACTURED BY CEQUENT BETWEEN DECEMBER 2003 AND DECEMBER

Mar 21, 2005 — Recall Campaign #05E023000

CERTAIN HIDDEN HITCH BRAND HITCH RECEIVERS MANUFACTURED BY CEQUENT BETWEEN DECEMBER 2003 AND DECEMBER 2004, P/N 64-6215, AND INSTALLED EXCLUSIVELY ON 2004 GULFSTREAM ENDURA CLASS C MOTORHOMES. THE HARDWARE MAY BECOME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE HITCH AND TOWED UNIT TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 358 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

05E023000

Manufacturer:	CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS
Recall date:	March 21, 2005
NHTSA Campaign #:	05E023000
Units affected:	358

Description:: CERTAIN HIDDEN HITCH BRAND HITCH RECEIVERS MANUFACTURED BY CEQUENT BETWEEN DECEMBER 2003 AND DECEMBER 2004, P/N 64-6215, AND INSTALLED EXCLUSIVELY ON 2004 GULFSTREAM ENDURA CLASS C MOTORHOMES. THE HARDWARE MAY BECOME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE HITCH AND TOWED UNIT TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE.
Consequeces:: SHOULD THE TOWED LOAD SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, A CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Corrective action:: HIDDEN HITCH WILL NOTIFY THE AFFECTED GULFSTREAM CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE HITCH HARDWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HIDDEN HITCH AT 1-800-529-5522 EXTENSION 477.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO 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.

Affects the following:

HIDDEN HITCH 64-6215

HIDDEN HITCH 64-6215 Complaints
I OWN A 1995 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4 PICKUP TRUCK , STANDARD CAB WITH A 6 FOOT BED. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM MY STEP FATHER EIGHT YEARS AGO. HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM A DODGE DEALESHIP IN LOUISVILLE KY IN JULY 1995 AND THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO HAVE A CLASS III RECIEVER HITCH INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE AS PART OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP SENT THE TRUCK TO AN INSTALLER ON FERN VALLEY RD. IN LOUISVILLE KY AND THE HITCH WAS INSTALLED AS AGREED. ON SATURDAY MARCH 18, 2006 I BORROWED A 16 FOOT DAUL AXLE FLATBED TRAILER FROM MY STEP FATHER SO THAT I COULD HAUL A COMPACT CAR "1988 MERCURY TRACER" BACK HOME FOR REPAIR. I HOOKED UP TO THE TRAILER WITH NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE RECIEVER HITCH. I PULLED THE TRAILER WITH NO LOAD APPROXIMATLY 5 MILES TO A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY WHERE I LOADED THE VEHICLE. AFTER LOADING THE VEHICLE THE ENTIRE RECIEVER BROKE FREE FROM THE BACK OF MY TRUCK AND IT ALONG WITH THE TONGUE OF THE TRAILER FELL TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATLY I HAD NOT MADE IT TO THE PUBLIC ROADWAY YET SO NO ONE WAS INURED AND NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OCCURED. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THAT BOTH STEEL BRACE BRACES OF THIS ONE PIECE REVIEVER DRAW-TITE CLASS III HITCH MANUFACTURED BY CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED TO THE POINT OF TOTAL DECAY. ALL SIX BOLTS AND THE IMMEDIATE STEEL MATERIAL ATTACHING THE HITCH TO THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WERE STILL INTACT AND SECURE. I REMOVED WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE ATTACHING HARDWARE FOR THE HITCH AFTER RETURNING HOME. I SAVED THE ENTIRE HITCH ASSEMBLY AND AS MUCH OF THE DECAYED MATERIAL AS POSSIBLE. HAD THIS FAILURE OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. I ATTEMPED TO CONTACT THE CEQUENT TOWING PRODUCTS THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE CONCERNS FORUM BUT AS OF 3/21/06 THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. *NM;