Trailer hitches (Atwood)
Vehicle equipment recall 85E-014. NHTSA received ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS’s report on Apr 1, 1985.
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The short answer
NHTSA received ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS’s report on Apr 1, 1985. 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.
THE WELDED WEDGE INSIDE THE COUPLER HOLDS THE BALL CLAMP WHICH ASSURES THAT THE BALL CLAMP HAS A FULL GRIP ON THE TOWING BALL WHICH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY WELED OR THE WEDGE MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED IN PRODUCTION.
CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS, IT MAY RESULT IN THE COUPLER COMING OFF THE BALL AND ALLOW THE TRAILER TO BREAK LOOSE FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.
What should you do?
REPLACE INVENTORY AT CUSTOMER LOCATIONS AND REPAIR OR PAY FOR REPAIRS FOR COUPLER ALREADY INSTALLED.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VEHICLES EQUIPPED TO USE A FRAME OR STRAIGHT TONGUE TRAILER COUPLERS.SYSTEM: TRAILER HITCH COUPLER.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 31,600 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Atwood AtwoodBuilt from Nov 1, 1984 to Mar 1, 1985
Who is recalling it?
- Made by ATWOOD MOBILE PRODUCTS.
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.
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 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 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 20, 2026.