Hearth Record

Equipment: mechanical: wrecker and wheel lift devices (Universal and Superior)

Vehicle equipment recall 96E-012. NHTSA received SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTL’s report on May 17, 1996.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTL’s report on May 17, 1996. 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?

A BREAK IN ONE OF THE TWO PARALLEL “U” BOLTS WILL CAUSE EXCESS VIBRATION AND COULD ALSO CAUSE THE AXLE TO SHIFT. IF BOTH “U” BOLTS BREAK ON ONE SIDE, THE AXLE WILL SHIFT CAUSING THE TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY TO SHIFT OUT OF POSITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

CERTAIN SQUARE-SHAPED “U” BOLTS USED WITH THESE LIFT/LOWERING KITS AND LIFT/LOWERING BLOCKS CAN BREAK DURING INSTALLATION WHEN TORQUED TO THE MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Equipment: mechanical: wrecker and wheel lift devices.

What should you do?

SUPERIOR WILL REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE LIFT/LOWERING KITS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: SYSTEM: EQUIPMENT; LIFT. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: LIFT/LOWERING KITS USED ON DODGE PICKUP TRUCKS AND TOYOTA 4WD PICKUP TRUCKS. NOTE: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MAY 22, 1996. NOTE: OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE KIT FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, SHOULD CONTACT SUPERIOR AT 1-818-781-4973. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 22,000 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 27, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Universal 13-1141Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996
  • Superior 13-1211Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996
  • Universal 13-1311Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996
  • Superior 13-1311Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996
  • Superior 13-1141Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996
  • Universal 13-1211Built from Sep 1, 1995 to May 1, 1996

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by SUPERIOR INDUSTRIES INTL.
Source:

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.
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 27, 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.

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