Campaign 24V-098

Tongue weldment may crack and separate from the tow hitch

Defect summary

Vermeer Manufacturing Company (Vermeer) is recalling certain 2016-2024 BC1800XL brush chipper trailers. The tongue weldment may crack and separate from the tow hitch.

Consequence

A hitch separation can cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Vermeer will provide a remedy kit, integrating a new surge brake tongue into the tongue weldment, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact Vermeer customer service at 1-800-829-0051, ext. 7060. Vermeer's number for this recall is IK4524.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 24V098000. Text as published by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered

One product line is covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about trailer hitches on these vehicles: 0, of which 0 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 24V-098
Make	Model	Model years	Complaints on this component
Vermeer	BC1800XL	2016 to 2021	0

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.

Investigation

No NHTSA investigation is linked to this recall

Most recalls are started by the manufacturer. This one lists "Manufacturer" as its origin.

Before the recall

No service bulletins on this component preceded the recall

Distinct manufacturer communications on the same component group, make, model and model year in the 24 months before the report date.

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications file.

Service bulletins

22V-499 Jul 12, 2022
Improper length mounting bolts were installed on the trailer hitches, resulting in inadequate thread engagement of the pintle hitch mounting bolts
16V-425 Jun 10, 2016
Spherical washers used during the assembly of the kingpin may have been installed incorrectly, possibly causing the attaching bolts to fail and…
15V-355 Jun 9, 2015
Affected trailers may have an incorrectly installed safety chain
08V-215 May 12, 2008
Bending and/or fatigue cracking in the tongue can result in tongue failure and separation from the towing vehicle
06V-176 May 22, 2006
On certain trailers, fatigue cracks can occur in a heat affected zone of the tongue weldment
05V-047 Feb 8, 2005
On certain single axle brush chipper trailers, fatigue and cracks can occur in the tongue weldment