Unknown or other (Hewitt and Automatic Equipment)
Vehicle equipment recall 92E-022. NHTSA received AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.’s report on Sep 14, 1992.
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The short answer
NHTSA received AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.’s report on Sep 14, 1992. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 27, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
IF A CRACK OCCURS AND CONTINUES TO DEVELOP, THE PLATEWILL BREAK INTO TWO PIECES. THE TOW BAR WILL STILL BE ATTACHED AT THIS TIME. BUTIT COULD FOLD IF THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED BY THE TOWING VEHICLE. CONTINUED USECOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE VEHICLE BEING TOWED.
TOW BAR CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE CENTER PLATE MOUNTING WHERE THE TWO LEGS ARE ATTACHED.
THE CRACKING IS CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE IN A POTENTIALLY WEAK PART OF THE TOW BAR.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Unknown or other.
What should you do?
A NEW REDESIGNED WELDMENT WHICH INCLUDES THE CENTER PLATE AND TWO LEGS WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT: TOW BAR.EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: TOW BARS WITH MODEL NAMES RANGEFINDER 4222SL ANDRANGEFINDER BX42222.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,312 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.
- Hewitt TOW BARBuilt from Feb 1, 1990 to Sep 1, 1992
- Automatic Equipment TOW BARBuilt from Feb 1, 1990 to Sep 1, 1992
Who is recalling it?
- Made by AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO..
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 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 27, 2026 and checked Oct 27, 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 27, 2026.