Hearth Record

Trailer hitches (Fontaine)

Vehicle recall 05V-403. NHTSA received FONTAINE TRAILER COMPANY’s report on Sep 13, 2005.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received FONTAINE TRAILER COMPANY’s report on Sep 13, 2005. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 25, 2026.

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

What’s wrong with it?

FAILURE OF THE WINCH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CARGO AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

ON CERTAIN OPEN PLATFORM TRAILERS, THE PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE SLIDING CARGO CONTROL WINCHES ALLOW IT TO ROTATE OUT OF THE WINCH TRACK AT A LOAD LOWER THAN THE STRENGTH REQUIRED BY PUBLISHED RATINGS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINCHES. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FONTAINE AT 1-800-821-6535.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 131 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Fontaine DFTand 2006, before the model years listed here
  • Fontaine FTWand 2006, before the model years listed here
  • Fontaine Eftwand 2006, before the model years listed here
  • Fontaine Edftand 2006, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by FONTAINE TRAILER COMPANY.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 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 25, 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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