YAKIMA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL FLIPSIDE HITCH MOUNT BICYCLE CARRIERS, P/N 8002426, USED TO TRANSPORT UP TO 4 BICYCLES, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON VARIOUS VEHICLES. THE FLIPSIDE HAS A FEATURE THAT ALLOWS THE MAST TO BE LOWERED TO THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK, HATCH, OR TRUCK BED. THE PULL PIN THAT ALLOWS THIS FEATURE CAN "WALK" OUT OF ITS POSITION AND ALLOW THE UNIT TO FALL TO THE SIDE WHILE BIKES ARE LOADED.
THE UNIT CAN FALL TO THE SIDE DURING USE. THIS COULD LEAD TO A BICYCLE HITTING THE GROUND AND EJECTING FROM THE MOUNT ONTO THE ROAD, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A CRASH OR INJURY TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
YAKIMA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAKIMA AT 1-971-249-7503.
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .