Hearth Record

Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly (Southwest)

Vehicle equipment recall 81E-009. NHTSA received SOUTHWEST TRUCK BODY CO.’s report on Jul 21, 1981.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received SOUTHWEST TRUCK BODY CO.’s report on Jul 21, 1981. 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?

The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.

TRAILER TONGUE DOLLIES ARE DESIGNED TO ACT AS A CONNECTING DEVICE BETWEEN THE REAR OF A TOWING TRAILER AND THE FRONT OF THE TRAILER BEING TOWED.

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THE SPRING BOX OF THE DOLLY MAY CAUSE A NON-ALIGNMENT OF THE REAR TRAILER.

Source:

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

  • NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly.

What should you do?

UPON INSPECTION, ANY CRACKED WELDS WILL BE REWELDED AND REINFORCEMENTS WILL BE ADDED TO THE FRONT CHANNEL AND SPRING BOX. THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Source:

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

  • How to reach the firm: VEHICLE CATEGORY: SEMI-TRAILER DOLLIES SOLD TO UNITED PARCEL SERVICE.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; TONGUE DOLLY SPRING BOX.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: PRIOR TO MISALIGNMENT, THE DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE APULLING SENSATION AT THE END OF THE LOAD. IGNORING THIS WARNING WILL CAUSE THEREAR TRAILER TO BECOME MISALIGNED WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CREATESTHE RISK OF COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THETRAILER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERPERSONS ON THE ROAD.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 310 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

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

  • Southwest SouthwestNHTSA gives no dates made

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by SOUTHWEST TRUCK BODY 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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