NHTSA Recall 05V332000
Filed by Reinke Manufacturing Company, Inc.. Component: Equipment. Reported 2005-07-27. An estimated 548 vehicles are affected. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Defect
ON CERTAIN COMBINATION STEEL/ALUMINUM FLATBED, DROPDECK, AND ALUMINUM FLATBED TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH MOUNTED TOOLBOXES, EACH TOOLBOX IS ATTACHED TO THE TRAILER WITH A MOUNTING SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES TWO ALUMINUM BRACKETS WHICH MAY HAVE DEVELOPED FATIGUE CRACKS ALONG THE BEND RADIUS LINES. SMALL CRACKS MAY FURTHER DEVELOP BASED ON TRAILER USAGE. THE BRACKET MAY BREAK CAUSING THE TOOLBOX TO SEPARATE FROM THE TRAILER.
Risk
IF THE TOOLBOX SEPARATES FROM THE TRAILER WHILE THE TRAILER IS IN MOTION, VEHICLES ON THE ROAD ARE AT RISK OF COLLISION WITH THE TOOLBOX AND ITS CONTENTS.
What the manufacturer will do
OWNERS OF AFFECTED TRAILERS WILL NEED TO FIND A CERTIFIED WELDER TO HAVE THE REMEDY PERFORMED. REINKE IS PROVIDING THE ALUMINUM GUSSETS ALONG WITH DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE WELDER. IF OWNERS OF AFFECTED TRAILERS ARE NOT ABLE TO LOCATE A CERTIFIED WELDER, REINKE WILL ASSIST IN LOCATING ONE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT REINKE AT 1-877-762-1001.
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.