Trailer hitches (Freightliner)
Vehicle recall 80V-031. NHTSA received FREIGHTLINER CORP.’s report on Mar 21, 1980.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FREIGHTLINER CORP.’s report on Mar 21, 1980. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
CRACKS MAY DEVELOP IN THE TRUCK”S REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER WHICH SUPPORTS THE TRAILER HITCH AND TO WHICH THE SAFETY CABLES ARE ATTACHED.
SHOULD THESE CRACKS PROGRESS TO THE POINT OF COMPLETE SEPARATION, THE CROSSMEMBER AND THE TRAILER COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRUCK.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE “A” FRAMES AND ANY OTHER DAMAGED PARTS AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH A REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER AND “A”FRAME ASSEMBLY.SYSTEM: STRUCTURE; REAR TOWING CROSSMEMBER.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: TRAILER DETACHMENT CAN OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING,RESULTING IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 1,500 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.
- Freightliner Freightlinerand 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FREIGHTLINER CORP..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 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.
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 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 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 28, 2026.