Wiring Harness may Overheat Causing Fire – 7-Way Wiring Harness

NHTSA Campaign Number: 18E014
Manufacturer American Technology Components, Inc.
Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Potential Number of Units Affected 4,701

 

Wiring Harness may Overheat Causing Fire

If the wiring overheats, there is an increased risk of a fire.

 

Summary

American Technology Components, Inc. (ATC) is recalling certain 7-Way Wiring Harnesses used for the aftermarket installation of truck caps. The harnesses being recalled are Leer model numbers 201055, 138359, 202060 and 142672, and Tag model numbers 201056, 140259, 202061 and 142673. The wiring may overheat.

 

Remedy

ATC will notify owners, and will replace the wiring harness, free of charge. The recall April 13, 2018. Owners may contact ATC customer service at 1-574-266-3172.

 

Notes

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.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

Dear Sir/Madam:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

American Technology Components, Inc. (ATC) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 7-way wiring harnesses supplied to Truck Accessories Group, Inc. beginning in August 2017. ATC is conducting a safety recall to address this issue.  Distributor and/or dealer records indicate that one of the recalled harnesses may have been installed with your truck cap.

!! IMPORTANT !! The wiring harness sold with your Truck Accessories Group truck cap is being recalled by the harness manufacturer, American Technology Components, Inc., due to a risk of fire. You should immediately take your truck to the dealer to have the harness replaced.

 

What Parts are Affected?

This recall affects the following part numbers that have a “work order” (w/o) number within the range 134287 through 137184:

Part No.
138359	202060
140259	202061
201055	142672
201056	142673

 

For example:

Why is a recall being conducted?	ATC has learned that the wiring harness encasement may cause a thermal event around the wires, which may lead to melting of the encasement, smoking and, in some instances, fire. If a fire occurs, there is an increased risk of personal injury or property damage. Additionally, the defect could result in a malfunction of the logic circuit that can cause the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) on the truck cap to operate incorrectly, which can generate in-dash error codes.
What are we doing about the problem?	ATC is offering a repair program free of charge (parts and labor) to TAG customers that have purchased the recalled wiring harness.
What should you do?	You should immediately contact your installing dealer to arrange to have the harness replaced.
What if you no longer own this truck cap with the wiring harness?	If you no longer own this wiring harness, but have the contact information for the new owner, please forward the new owner’s contact information to ATC so that proper notification can be sent. Notification can be sent to the following address: Ref. 7-Way Recall Email: maya@atcomp.com Phone: (574) 322-3714 Address: 2905 LaVanture Place, Elkhart, IN 46514
Who should you contact if you have further questions or concerns?	If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact ATC, toll free, at the following number: (800) 238-2687.
If you are the lessor of a vehicle with a truck cap that has the wiring harness:	Please forward a copy of this notice to the lessee as soon as possible and, in any case, within ten days to comply with federal regulations.

 

If, after having attempted to take advantage of this recall, you believe you have not been able to have your wiring harness remedied without charge and within a reasonable amount of time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington D.C., 20590; or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-4249153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

We apologize for any inconvenience this safety recall may cause, but your safety is our first concern. Sincerely,

American Technology Components, Inc.

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SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

March 26, 2018

TO:      Truck Accessories Group Dealers

American Technology Components, Inc. (ATC) has determined that a safety defect may exist in certain 7-way wiring harnesses that were sold to Truck Accessories Group (TAG) between August 2017 and January 2018. A voluntary safety recall has been initiated to address this issue.

What Products are Affected?

This recall affects the following part numbers within “work order” (w/o) range of 134287 through 137184:

LEER Part No.	TAG Part No.
138359	140259
201055	201056
202060	202061
142672	142673

 

For example:

What is the Problem?

ATC has learned that the wiring harness encasement may cause a thermal event around the wires, which may lead to melting of the encasement, smoking and, in some instances, fire. If a fire occurs, there is an increased risk of personal injury or property damage. Additionally, the defect could result in a malfunction of the logic circuit that can cause the center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL) on the truck cap to operate incorrectly, which can generate in-dash error codes.

We are asking that all users immediately bring their vehicles to their installing dealer to have the harness replaced in accordance with the applicable Technical Service Bulletin and Recall Instructions provided by Truck Accessories Group.

What Should You Do?

• Recalled product in inventory: If any of the above-identified harnesses remain in your inventory, please do not install them. We require that you quarantine them and contact your regional Truck Accessories Group warranty representative: TAG Midwest: (574) 522-5337 x225; TAG West: (530) 668-6950; or TAG East: (570) 768-6055 for further instructions. These units will be replaced by ATC with redesigned units at no cost.

IMPORTANT: Please be reminded that it is a violation of Federal law for you to sell or lease the wire harness assemblies that are covered by this notification. Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.

• Products You Sold to Other Resellers: If you sold the recalled products to reselling customers (such as installers and retailers), you must do the following: (1) forward a copy of this letter and attachment(s) to them within five (5) business days of receipt, and (2) provide the contact information for the reselling customers to ATC Warranty Parts and Service at (574) 262-1258. This will facilitate any future notification to those customers. ATC will replace products that remain in your customers’ inventory on the same basis as above at no cost.
• Products You Installed or Sold to Consumers: Please review your sales records to identify any consumers to whom you sold the recalled product. ATC will provide NHTSA-approved correspondence to dealers to be sent to end users. You have two options for communicating this Safety Recall to them.

i. As set described in the Technical Service Bulletin, assistance for mailing this communication is available to our dealers at no charge through EPI Marketing Services. EPI will mail the required ATC recall correspondence to your end-user customer(s) and include a cover letter with your dealer information as though it came from you. If you choose to utilize EPI Marketing Services, provide your dealer contact information and the list of your retail customers who purchased recalled product via email or standard mail to:

EPI
Attn: Laurie Thurman
65 Clark Road North
Battle Creek, MI
1-269 964-6744  EXTN. 5587
l_thurman@epiinc.com

 

ii. Alternatively, you may notify your end user customers directly using the enclosed NHTSAapproved notification letter, which provides important information about this recall, including instructions for obtaining a replacement free of charge (parts and labor).

If an owner brings in a vehicle affected by this recall, you should provide them with a replacement harness in accordance with the applicable Technical Service Bulletin provided by Truck Accessories Group.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact your regional Truck Accessories Group warranty representative: TAG Midwest: (574) 522-5337 x225; TAG West: (530) 668-6950; or TAG East: (570) 768-Your assistance with this recall is appreciated.

Sincerely,

American Technology Components, Inc.

Enclosure (Owner Notification Letter)

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Owner Notification Letter

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCONL-18E014-1169.pdf

 

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Manufacturer Notice

March 26, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCMN-18E014-8530.pdf

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

March 20, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCAK-18E014-7321.pdf

 

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