Hearth Record

Trailer hitches (Kaufman)

Vehicle recall 13V-351. NHTSA received Kaufman Trailers’s report on Aug 7, 2013.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received Kaufman Trailers’s report on Aug 7, 2013. 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?

If the kingpin button separates, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.

Kaufman Trailers of NC, Inc. and Kaufman Trailers of NE, Inc.

(Kaufman) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 gooseneck auto transport trailers and equipment trailers manufactured June 26, through August 6, 2013.

These trailers are equipped with kingpins attched to square bottom plates which may crack over time, causing the button to separate from the bottom plate.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.

What should you do?

Kaufman will notify owners instructing them to inspect their trailers for kingpins with square bottom plates. Kaufman will ship replacement kingpins to owners of affected trailers, free of charge. The recall began on August 16, 2013. Owners may contact Kaufman at 1-336-790-6800.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to 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 269 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • Kaufman Trailerand 2012 and 2013, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by Kaufman Trailers.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. 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

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

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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