Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly (Karavan)
Vehicle recall 96V-188. NHTSA received KARAVAN TRAILERS’s report on Sep 25, 1996.
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The short answer
NHTSA received KARAVAN TRAILERS’s report on Sep 25, 1996. 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?
THIS UNDERTORQUING CAN ALLOW THE ALIGNMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND FALL OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. ONCE THE BOLT IS GONE, THE SPRING LEAF CAN SHIFT AND EVENTUALLY FALL AWAY FROM THE AXLE ALLOW THE BED OF THE TRAILER TO FALL AGAINST THE TIRE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
THE ALIGNMENT BOLT WAS NOT TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Suspension: rear: springs: leaf spring assembly.
What should you do?
DEALERS ARE REPLACING THE SPRING SETS ON THESE TRAILERS.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 26, 1996. NOTE:OWNERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE SPRING SETS REPLACED ON THEIR TRAILERS SHOULD CONTACT KARAVAN AT 1-414-928-6200.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
- Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 282 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Karavan T4000and 1994, before the model years listed here
- Karavan T3500and 1994, before the model years listed here
Who is recalling it?
- Made by KARAVAN TRAILERS.
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.
- 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
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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.