Trailer hitches (Reese)
Vehicle equipment recall 98E-006. NHTSA received REESE PRODUCTS, INC’s report on Mar 9, 1998.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.
The short answer
NHTSA received REESE PRODUCTS, INC’s report on Mar 9, 1998. 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?
IN VEHICLES WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL STOP WORKING. IN VEHICLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, THE DRIVER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AGAIN SHIFT INTO ‘DRIVE.’
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: TRAILER CONVERTERS FOR USE ON TOYOTA MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES.
THE CIRCUIT BOARD OF THE ‘CONVERTER’ IN THE WIRING HARNESS IS SUBJECT TO ELECTRICAL SHORTING, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE TO BLOW.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Trailer hitches.
What should you do?
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS BOTH IN USE AND THOSE INSTALLED IN VEHICLES STILL IN DEALERS’ INVENTORIES.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULDCONTACT REESE AT 1-219-264-7564.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 1,700 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Reese Trailer HitchBuilt from Jan 13, 1998 to Mar 2, 1998
Who is recalling it?
- Made by REESE PRODUCTS, INC.
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
-
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.