Trailer hitches (Fleetwood)
Vehicle recall 81V-051. NHTSA received FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.’s report on Apr 13, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FLEETWOOD ENT., INC.’s report on Apr 13, 1981. 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?
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
ON SOME TRAVEL TRAILERS, THE WELDS ON THE TRAILER COUPLERS MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR INSUFFICIENT.
SHOULD THE COUPLER DETACH FROM TRAILER WHILE TOWING, THE TRAILER WOULD BE SECURED TO THE TOWING VEHICLE ONLY BY ITS SAFETY CHAINS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL INSPECT COUPLER AND REWELD, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL TRAILERS.SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; BALL COUPLER TO TRAILER TONGUE WELDS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: IF DRIVER EXPERIENCES LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLEBECAUSE OF THE COUPLING FAILURE OR IF COMPLETE DETACHMENT OF THE TRAILEROCCURS, AN ACCIDENT COULD RESULT.NOTE: PRIOR TO REPAIRS, DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND ONLY WITHCAREFULLY SECURED SAFETY CHAINS, AND USE MINIMUM TENSION ON THE EQUILIZER HITCHSPRING BARS.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 189 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
- Fleetwood Wildernessand 1981, before the model years listed here
- Fleetwood Prowlerand 1981, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FLEETWOOD ENT., INC..
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.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
-
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 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 25, 2026.