Hearth Record

Trailer hitches (Featherlite)

Vehicle recall 00V-408. NHTSA received FEATHERLITE, INC.’s report on Dec 5, 2000.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FEATHERLITE, INC.’s report on Dec 5, 2000. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

SHOULD EITHER SITUATION HAPPEN, THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE COUPLER CAN MOVE UPWARD THUS ALLOWING THE LOCKING JAWS OF THE COUPLER TO OPEN ENOUGH TO ALLOW THE COUPLER TO RELEASE FROM THE BALL ON THE TOW VEHICLE. THE SAFETY CHAIN ASSEMBLIES MAY ALSO HAVE AN INADEQUATE FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER BECOMES UNCOUPLED, ALLOWING THE SAFETY CHAIN TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH DOTSCO COUPLERS AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER ASSEMBLIES.

THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN THAT ENSURES THAT THE COUPLER REMAINS LOCKED CAN BE MISPLACED AND NOT INSTALLED BY THE OPERATOR.

THE COUPLER LOCKING PIN ALSO HAD A SAFETY PIN, WHICH COULD BE MISPLACED OR COME LOOSE AND FALL OUT.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A COUPLER AND SAFETY CHAIN/FASTENER KIT TO THESE TRAILERS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2000.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FEATHERLITE AT 1-877-903-1444. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 90 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Featherlite 4951and 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, before the model years listed here
  • Featherlite 4950and 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FEATHERLITE, INC..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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