Equipment (Hafendorfer)
Vehicle equipment recall 04E-044. NHTSA received HAFENDORFER MACHINE, INC.’s report on Jun 18, 2004.
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The short answer
NHTSA received HAFENDORFER MACHINE, INC.’s report on Jun 18, 2004. 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?
IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WHILE THE CABLE BECOMES LOOSE, IT CAN SNAP BACK AND POSSIBLY HIT THE PERSON STANDING NEAR IT AND/OR THE TRAILER TAILGATE CAN DROP ON SOMEONE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES.
CERTAIN TAILGATE ASSIST LIFTING DEVICES MANUFACTURED JANUARY 1 AND MARCH/APRIL 2004.
THE CRIMPING MACHINE MAY HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON RANDOM UNITS DURING PRODUCTION AND NOT PROPERLY CRIMPED SOME OF THE COMPRESSION SLEEVES WHICH HOLDS THE CABLES TOGETHER.
WHILE IN USE, THE CABLE LOOP CAN BECOME UNCRIMPED, RELEASING THE CABLE’S TENSION, CAUSING THE CABLE TO COME LOOSE AND TRAILER TAILGATE TO FALL.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Equipment.
What should you do?
HAFENDORFER WILL PROVIDE NEW SPRING/CABLE ASSEMBLIES AND INSTRUCTIONS TO CUSTOMERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 28, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HAFENDORFER MACHINE, INC. AT 1-888-244-3669 EXT. 15.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 1,362 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Hafendorfer Gorilla-LiftNHTSA gives no dates made
- Hafendorfer Back SaverNHTSA gives no dates made
Who is recalling it?
- Made by HAFENDORFER MACHINE, INC..
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.
- Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
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.