NHTSA recall 00E013000 · Equipment
Trailer hitches
Reported Mar 7, 20006,750 vehicles affectedFORD MOTOR COMPANYBuilt Jul 22, 1996 – Dec 31, 1999
The defect
Aftermarket trailer hitch assemblies. the mounting bolts and nut plates may become loose and lose clamp load, resulting in a disengagement of the attaching bolts from the vehicle.
The risk
If the operator does not notice the condition due to rattle or other looseness of the trailer hitch assembly, there IS a potential for the trailer hitch to separate from the vehicle.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners of the trailer hitch assemblies to return their hitches to the dealers to replace the mounting bolts and nut plates with a higher strength mounting bolts and nut plates installed at a higher torque and including an adhesive patch.