Hearth Record

Equipment (Masterlock)

Vehicle equipment recall 07E-081. NHTSA received MASTERLOCK CO.’s report on Sep 25, 2007.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received MASTERLOCK CO.’s report on Sep 25, 2007. 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?

IN THE EVENT THAT THE MAIN TOWING MECHANISM, SUCH AS THE BALL MOUNT OR THE HITCH BALL FAILS, AND THE TRAILING VEHICLE BECOMES DISENGAGED FROM THE HITCH RECEIVER, THE LINK CONNECTED TO THE SAFETY CHAIN COULD FAIL ALLOWING THE TRAILING VEHICLE TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

CERTAIN MASTERLOCK QUICK LINK TOWING SAFETY CHAIN CONNECTORS, MODEL 2983 DAT, WITH “5/16” 1,760 LBS.

WLL” STAMPED INTO THE PRODUCT.

THE LOCKING NUT ON THE LINK MAY NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE SCREW THREADS ON THE LINK, PREVENTING THE LOCKING NUT FROM HOLDING THE FORCE GENERATED DURING USE.

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LINK BECOMING MIS-SHAPENED AND ALLOWING THE SAFETY CHAIN ATTACHED TO THE LINK TO COME LOOSE FROM THE LINK, AND/OR THE LINK TO COME LOOSE FROM THE HITCH RECEIVER.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Equipment.

What should you do?

MASTERLOCK WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO STOP USING THE DEFECTIVE LINKS AND RETURN THEM FOR FREE REPLACEMENT LINKS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 4, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT MASTERLOCK AT 800-424-2088.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 56,406 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • Masterlock 2983 DATNHTSA gives no dates made

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by MASTERLOCK CO..
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.
  • 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.
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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Every fact names its source.

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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