Coupler Improperly Welded – 2022 Big Tex Trailer 50SR & 70SR Trailers

SEOCONTENT-START

BigTex TRAILERS. 950 Interstate Hwy 30 E Ml. Pleasant, Texas 75455-7711 Phone (903) 575-0300 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL This notice applies to your motor vehicle equipment, VIN 16V1 01• Date: 31-MA Y-22 Safety Recall Number: 22V229 Subject: Recall for inspection of RAM Coupler for potential incomplete welds Dear Big Tex Model 50SR/70SR Trailer Owner: This notice is being sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC (Big Tex), has concluded that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2200 Big Tex Models (S0SR & 70SR). Based on information supplied by Pacific Trailer Products, Inc. as part of NHTSA Recall 22E-003, the bottom portion of the coupler may not have been completed welded. Trailer separation from a tow vehicle can increase the risk of a era.sh. Your trailer has been identified as one that is included in this recall. You are a!ivised not to use the trailer for any purpose and to immediately contact Big Tex to schedule the required inspection and potential coupler replacement (only performed if the inspection fails). Please contact Big Tex Warranty Team by phone at (800) 575-0300 ext. 2335 or by email warranty@bigtextrailers.com immediately to schedule the inspection. The defect will be remedied by your authorized Big Tex dealer or representative by inspecting the coupler for the presence of incomplete welds. If the inspection fails (i.e., welds are incomplete) the dealer will replace the coupler. The inspection will talce approximately 15 minutes to perfo1m and if the inspection fails, the coupler will be replaced, which will tal

**************************************************************************************************************

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. Submission Date : APR 22, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22V-229 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. Address : 950 I-30 East Mt. Pleasant TX 75455 Company phone : 903-575-0300 Population : Number of potentially involved : 690 Estimated percentage with defect : 50 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2022-2022 Big Tex 50SR; 70SR Vehicle Type : TRAILERS Body Style : OTHER Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : Pacific Trailer Part, Inc. (Pac Rim) notified Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC (Big Tex) in November 2021 that a bin of incomplete tack welded couplers, Part # CA-5400, were mixed into other finished products in July 2021 at the Pac Rim factory and delivered to Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC on September 9, 2021 and September 29, 2021. Based on documentation provided, Big Tex received a total of 340 units. Big Tex inspected all on hand units in November 2021 and no couplers were found to contain incomplete welds. Upon receipt of notification from NHTSA in March 2022 regarding Recall 22E-003, an additional inspection was performed, and no defective parts were discovered. However, it was determined that some of the couplers may have made it into production prior to the November notification from Pac Rim. Big Tex therefore identified all models manufactured between September 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 which use the CA-5400 coupler and identified 690 trailers that were produced during this time frame Production Dates : SEP 16, 2021 – JAN 15, 2022 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Recall 22E-003, a bin of tack welded (incomplete weld) CA-5400 couplers were mixed in with other finished products in July 2021 at their factory. The bottom portion of the coupler may not have been completely welded. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of the Safety Risk : Recall 22E-003, if the coupler welds fail, it could cause the trailer to become separated from the tow vehicle, increasing the risk of fire, injury or a crash. Description of the Cause : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Recall 22E-003, the bottom portion of the coupler may not have been completely welded. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : No known prior warning that would proceed the failure of the welds. Involved Components : Component Name 1 : RAM Coupler Component Description : coupler Component Part Number : CA-5400-O, CA-5400-B Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Pacific Trailer Products, Inc. Address : 19120 SE 34th Street, Suite 105 Vancouver Washington 98683 Country : United States Chronology : In November of 2021 Pacific Rim notified Big Tex that they had couplers with incomplete welds had been mixed in with couplers with completed welds. By matching invoices and purchase orders, it was determined that Big Tex received shipments totaling 340 units for use on September 9th and September 29th. An internal Quality Alert was issued, and inspections were performed at the facilities where the couplers would be utilized in production. No couplers with incomplete welds were identified at that time and no further action was taken. In March of 2022, NHTSA provided Big Tex with Recall 22E-033 for the CA-5400 Coupler, and additional inspections of on-hand inventory were performed. No defective couplers were identified. However, it was determined that, prior to the November 2021 notice from Pac Rim, units could have been built utilizing couplers that are now subject to Recall 22E-003 and it is acknowledged that there is the potential that couplers subject to Recall 22E-003 were overlooked during the November 2021 inspections. Because Big Tex cannot connect the trailer VIN to a specific coupler because couplers are not serialized, all models that use the CA-5400 coupler produced between the date the couplers would have been placed into production and the date that all on hand inventory should have been used up must be included. Big Tex identified 690 trailers produced between September 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 which may contain couplers subject to Recall Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 22E-003. Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Big Tex will notify all dealers of the recall and request that any trailers currently in their inventory that may contain the defective coupler be inspected. Big Tex will coordinate with Pacific Rim to provide replacement couplers for all trailers that are inspected and found to have the incomplete weld. Dealers will be reimbursed for half an hour of labor to inspect the coupler, and two hours of labor to inspect and perform the necessary repairs, if the coupler is found to have incomplete welds. Dealers will be asked to return the defective couplers to Pacific Rim. The replacement couplers and any freight associated with the coupler shipment or return of defective couplers will be covered by the manufacturer, Pacific Rim. Upon submission of a paid invoice for repairs, customers who had the coupler repaired prior to the issuance of the recall will be given the choice between cash reimbursement or a credit in the amount of the repair bill to be used at TexTrail, Inc. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The weld of the faulty coupler as viewed from the bottom has only tack welds in spots. The correct coupler as viewed from the bottom has a continuous weld along the edges of both parts. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : All inventory has been used. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Notification of Dealers will begin as soon as practicable after issuance of the recall number by NHTSA. Notification of retail purchasers and registered owners will begin as soon as they are identified and have notices mailed to them or before June 7, 2022 Planned Dealer Notification Date : APR 15, 2022 – MAY 09, 2022 Planned Owner Notification Date : MAY 09, 2022 – JUN 07, 2022 * NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. Submission Date : APR 08, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22V-229 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. Address : 950 I-30 East Mt. Pleasant TX 75455 Company phone : 903-575-0300 Population : Number of potentially involved : 690 Estimated percentage with defect : 50 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2022-2022 Big Tex 50SR; 70SR Vehicle Type : TRAILERS Body Style : OTHER Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : Pacific Trailer Part, Inc. (Pac Rim) notified Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC (Big Tex) in November 2021 that a bin of incomplete tack welded couplers, Part # CA-5400, were mixed into other finished products in July 2021 at the Pac Rim factory and delivered to Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, LLC on September 9, 2021 and September 29, 2021. Based on documentation provided, Big Tex received a total of 340 units. Big Tex inspected all on hand units in November 2021 and no couplers were found to contain incomplete welds. Upon receipt of notification from NHTSA in March 2022 regarding Recall 22E-003, an additional inspection was performed, and no defective parts were discovered. However, it was determined that some of the couplers may have made it into production prior to the November notification from Pac Rim. Big Tex therefore identified all models manufactured between September 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 which use the CA-5400 coupler and identified 690 trailers that were produced during this time frame Production Dates : SEP 16, 2021 – JAN 15, 2022 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Recall 22E-003, a bin of tack welded (incomplete weld) CA-5400 couplers were mixed in with other finished products in July 2021 at their factory. The bottom portion of the coupler may not have been completely welded. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of the Safety Risk : Recall 22E-003, if the coupler welds fail, it could cause the trailer to become separated from the tow vehicle. Description of the Cause : Based on information provided by Pacific Trailer Products as part of NHTSA Recall 22E-003, the bottom portion of the coupler may not have been completely welded. Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : No known prior warning that would proceed the failure of the welds. Involved Components : Component Name 1 : RAM Coupler Component Description : coupler Component Part Number : CA-5400-O, CA-5400-B Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Pacific Trailer Products, Inc. Address : 19120 SE 34th Street, Suite 105 Vancouver Washington 98683 Country : United States Chronology : In November of 2021 Pacific Rim notified Big Tex that they had couplers with incomplete welds had been mixed in with couplers with completed welds. By matching invoices and purchase orders, it was determined that Big Tex received shipments totaling 340 units for use on September 9th and September 29th. An internal Quality Alert was issued, and inspections were performed at the facilities where the couplers would be utilized in production. No couplers with incomplete welds were identified at that time and no further action was taken. In March of 2022, NHTSA provided Big Tex with Recall 22E-033 for the CA-5400 Coupler, and additional inspections of on-hand inventory were performed. No defective couplers were identified. However, it was determined that, prior to the November 2021 notice from Pac Rim, units could have been built utilizing couplers that are now subject to Recall 22E-003 and it is acknowledged that there is the potential that couplers subject to Recall 22E-003 were overlooked during the November 2021 inspections. Because Big Tex cannot connect the trailer VIN to a specific coupler because couplers are not serialized, all models that use the CA-5400 coupler produced between the date the couplers would have been placed into production and the date that all on hand inventory should have been used up must be included. Big Tex identified 690 trailers produced between September 16, 2021 and January 15, 2022 which may contain couplers subject to Recall Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-229 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 22E-003. Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Big Tex will notify all dealers of the recall and request that any trailers currently in their inventory that may contain the defective coupler be inspected. Big Tex will coordinate with Pacific Rim to provide replacement couplers for all trailers that are inspected and found to have the incomplete weld. Dealers will be reimbursed for half an hour of labor to inspect the coupler, and two hours of labor to inspect and perform the necessary repairs, if the coupler is found to have incomplete welds. Dealers will be asked to return the defective couplers to Pacific Rim. The replacement couplers and any freight associated with the coupler shipment or return of defective couplers will be covered by the manufacturer, Pacific Rim. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The weld of the faulty coupler as viewed from the bottom has only tack welds in spots. The correct coupler as viewed from the bottom has a continuous weld along the edges of both parts. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : All inventory has been used. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : Notification of Dealers will begin as soon as practicable after issuance of the recall number by NHTSA. Notification of retail purchasers and registered owners will begin as soon as they are identified and have notices mailed to them or before June 7, 2022 Planned Dealer Notification Date : APR 15, 2022 – MAY 09, 2022 Planned Owner Notification Date : MAY 09, 2022 – JUN 07, 2022 * NR – Not Reported

SEOCONTENT-END