Pintle Hooks may not Stay Latched - Horizon Ball and Pintle Hook

September 9, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20E065000

Pintle Hooks may not Stay Latched

If the pintle hook comes unlocked, the towed vehicle may separate, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E065

Manufacturer Horizon Global

Components TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number of Units Affected 15,258

 

Summary

Horizon Global (Horizon) is recalling certain U-Haul 4204, Draw-Tite 63010, 63011 and 63012 and Reese Towpower 6301142, 741161142, 74115, 7411542, 74116, 74117, and 7411742 Ball and Pintle Hook combination sold between November 2019 and August 2020. Due to an out of position pivot hole on the base component, there may be reduced engagement between the T-latch and the base, possibly preventing the upper moveable jaw from securely locking in the closed position.

 

Remedy

Horizon will work with dealers and distributors to notify owners, and replace the affected pintle hooks, free of charge. The recall began November 3, 2020. Owners may contact Horizon customer service at 1-877-973-7871.

 

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.

---

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

RECALL NO. 20E065
October 2020

 

Dear Valued Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.  Horizon Global Americas Inc. (Horizon Global) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain UHaul, Draw-Tite, TowReady and Reese Towpower brand Ball & Pintle Hook Combination products listed below. Horizon is conducting a voluntary safety recall to address the issue.  We are notifying you because distribution records indicate that you may have purchased one of these products.

 

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Due to a process change at the supplier in effect during a specified production period, a pivot hole on the base component of some of these products may be out of position, resulting in less engagement between the T-latch and the base. This condition, if present, can prevent the upper moveable jaw from locking securely in the closed position.  If the T-latch engagement is sufficiently reduced, there is a risk of opening and separation of the trailer from the towing vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

WHAT PRODUCTS ARE INVOLVED?

This recall involves the following products:

Brand	Part Number	Description	Available for Sale by Retailers	Date Code on Base Mounting Surface (if applicable)
U-Haul	4204	Pintle Hook w/ 2-5/16" Ball	January 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
TowReady	63010	Pintle Hook w/1-7/8" Ball	March 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Draw-Tite	63011	Pintle Hook w/2" Ball	May 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Draw-Tite	63012	Pintle Hook w/2-5/16" Ball	November 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Reese Towpower	74115	Pintle Hook w/1-7/8" Ball	August 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	7411542	Heavy Duty Pintle Hook w/ 1-7/8" Ball	August 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	74116	Pintle Hook w/ 2" Ball	December 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	74117	Pintle Hook w/ 2-5/16" Ball	December 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	7411742	Pintle Hook w/ 2-5/16" Ball	January 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower or Draw-Tite	6301142	Pintle Hook w/ 2" Ball	May 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Reese Towpower	741161142	Pintle Hook w/ 2" Ball	December 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable

 

If you purchased your product during the applicable period sho n abo e nder Available for Sale by Retailers o r product may be affected. Because not all such parts are affected by the condition, please see he WHAT YOU SHOULD DO por ion of his le er for f r her ins r c ions o de ermine he her o r par is affected and should be returned.

 

Products purchased after August 31, 2020 are not affected. These unaffected products will contain either (i) the number  stamped on either side of the mounting flange indicating that the product has been inspected and accepted, or (ii) a date code stamped on the neck in the following format  J Y WW, where J = Supplier Code, Y = Year Code (A = 2020, B = 2021, etc.), and WW  = Calendar Week Number  indicating that the product was manufactured after August 31, 2020.  (Thus, for example, JA43 indicates that the product was manufactured during the 43^rd week of 2020.)  These stamps can be found on the Base of the Ball & Pintle Assembly where indicated in these photos:

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Because not all of the parts listed above are defective, Horizon Global has developed inspection instructions that may be used to determine whether your product is affected by this issue.  Inspection instructions (including a how-to video) are available at https://www.reeseprod.com/product-recalls or https://www.draw-tite.com/product-recalls.  These websites also contain instructions for returning your part and obtaining a free replacement if your unit is determined to be defective.

If you are unable to perform the inspection or if you would prefer to have the inspection performed for you, please contact Horizon Global for additional assistance.

 

QUESTIONS?

If you have questions regarding this recall, please contact Horizon Global at 1-877-973-7871 or [email protected].  If you are unable to obtain a remedy without charge within a reasonable time, you may submit a complaint to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590; or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

 

* * *

 

Horizon Global is taking this action in the interest of your safety and satisfaction with our products.  We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your attention to this matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Campaign Administrator
Horizon Global Americas Inc.

 

---

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

RECALL NO. 20E065

October 2020

 

Dear Valued Customer:

We are writing to inform you that Horizon Global is conducting a voluntary safety recall of the Ball & Pintle Hook Combination products listed below.

 

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Due to a process change at the supplier in effect during a specified production period, a pivot hole on the base component of some of these products may be out of position, resulting in less engagement between the T-latch and the base. This condition, if present, can prevent the upper moveable jaw from locking securely in the closed position.  If the T-latch engagement is sufficiently reduced, there is a risk of opening and separation of the trailer from the towing vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

WHAT PRODUCTS ARE INVOLVED?

This recall involves the following products (excluding private label or retailer-specific products, whose distributors have been notified separately) which you may have purchased:

Brand	Part Number	Description	Shipped to Horizon Customers	Date Code on Base Mounting Surface (if applicable)
TowReady	63010	Pintle Hook w/1-7/8" Ball	March 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Draw-Tite	63011	Pintle Hook w/2" Ball	May 1, 2020  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Draw-Tite	63012	Pintle Hook w/2-5/16" Ball	November 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	SM011941 to SM012023
Reese Towpower	74115	Pintle Hook w/1-7/8" Ball	August 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	74116	Pintle Hook w/ 2" Ball	December 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable
Reese Towpower	74117	Pintle Hook w/ 2-5/16" Ball	December 1, 2019  August 31, 2020	Not Applicable

 

Products received after August 31, 2020 are not affected. These unaffected products will contain either (i) the number “ ” stamped on either side of the mounting flange indicating that the product has been inspected and accepted, or (ii) a date code stamped on the neck in the following format  “J Y WW,” where J  Supplier Code, Y  Year Code A  , B

2021, etc.), and WW = Calendar Week Number  indicating that the product was manufactured after August 31, 2020.

 

(Thus, for example, JA43 indicates that the product was manufactured during the 43^rd week of 2020.)  These stamps can be found on the Base of the Ball & Pintle Assembly where indicated in these photos:

 

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

(a) Product Remaining in Your Inventory: All product received on or before August 31, 2020 should be quarantined and returned to Horizon Global per the Horizon return/refund policy. Products received after August 31, 2020 are not covered by this recall.  Note:  Federal law prohibits the sale of recalled product.

(b) Products You Sold to Other Resellers: If you sold the recalled products to reselling customers (such as installers and retailers), you must forward a copy of this letter and the attached NHTSA-approved consumer letter to them within five (5) business days of receipt. They should contact Horizon at 1-877-973-7871 or [email protected] to arrange for the return of the product. They should also review their sales records and send a copy of the enclosed consumer letter to any consumer purchasers.

(c) Products You Installed or Sold to Consumers: You must immediately check your sale records to identify any consumers who purchased one of the above-listed products during the referenced period and send those purchasers a copy of the enclosed NHTSA-approved owner letter. The letter advises consumers of the issue and provides instructions for determining whether their unit is affected by this condition.

If a consumer brings a potentially defective unit to one of your locations, please provide the consumer with a copy of the enclosed NHTSA-approved owner notification letter.   Owner inspection instructions (including a how-to video) are available at https://www.reeseprod.com/product-recalls or https://www.drawtite.com/product-recalls to assist in determining if the product is defective.  These websites also include a Recall Registration process for the replacement / return of defective units.

 

*           *             *

 

Please contact Horizon Global Customer Service at 1-877-973-7871 or [email protected] if you have any questions about this recall. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we are taking this action in the interest of our customers’ personal safety and satisfaction with our products. We appreciate your cooperation and prompt attention to this important matter.

 

Sincerely,

 

Campaign Administrator
Horizon Global Americas Inc.

 

Enclosure (Owner Notification Letter)

 

---

3 Affected Products

Equipments

BRAND	PART NO.	PRODUCTION DATES
DRAW-TITE	PINTLE HOOK
REESE	PINTLE HOOK
U-HAUL	PINTLE HOOK

---

6 Associated Documents

Recall 573 Report - Amendment 2

RCLRPT-20E065-2211.PDF 227.892KB

---

Recall 573 Report - Amendment 3

RCLRPT-20E065-6078.PDF 227.7KB

---

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20E065-5513.PDF 231.01KB

---

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20E065-5530.pdf 302.116KB

---

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20E065-8694.pdf 291.481KB

---

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20E065-4024.pdf 301.403KB

---

Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20E065&docType=RCL

For the most up to date documents from NHTSA for this Recall, click the lick above

---

 

Last update on 2021-01-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API