Hearth Record

Trailer hitches: fifth wheel assembly (Automatic)

Vehicle recall 88V-172. NHTSA received AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.’s report on Nov 1, 1988.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.’s report on Nov 1, 1988. 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?

TONGUE MOUNT COULD FAIL AND RESULT IN TRAILER SEPARATION.

CRACKS MAY OCCUR IN THE MATERIAL OF THE TONGUE MOUNT WHERE THREE ONE INCH HOLES ARE LOCATED TO ACCOMMODATE RUBBER GROMMETS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

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

What should you do?

REALIGN, REINFORCE, AND WELD FRACTURED PART.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: TONGUE MOUNT.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CAR TRAILERS.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 1,219 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Automatic KT 75and 1986 and 1987, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO..
Source:

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.
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 25, 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 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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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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