Axle May Crack and Separate – 2021 East Texas Tank Trailers

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Phone: 903-378-3303 Email: [email protected] 17177 US-82 Petty, TX 75470 IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL East Texas Trailers October 2022 Dear East Texas Trailers Customer: This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. That a safety related defect may exist with certain 2021 Tank trailers equipped with Besser Pro 7000lbs. Tubular Straight Axle assemblies. The weld that joins the spindle and the main axle may have been improperly placed, which can cause cracking or separation of the axle from the spindle. You are receiving this letter because East Texas Trailers has determined that you have received/sold a trailer with these axles that may contain a safety-related defect. What is the Problem? Due to a manufacturing error, the weld joining the spindle to the main beam of the axle may not be properly placed, which could result in improper weld penetration or in an otherwise deficient weld. The potential deficient weld could fail when stressed by a heavy load or hard impact. Upon examination of the spindle welds, any evidence of cracking means the axle has been overstressed is evidence that it could break under further pressure. A weld failure could result in cracking of the axle or separation of the spindle, which increases the risk of a crash. What Should You Do? Trailers Sold with the Recalled Axles: If you have sold a trailer with these recalled axles (7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler) please contact Besser’s Quality Assurance Representative [email protected] or 903-653-4733 with the contact information of those consumers. Dealers will inspect the axle serial numbers, and replace the axles as necessary, free of charge. Serial Numbers (2020016751, 2020016752, 2020016757, 2020016758, 2020016759, 2020016760) If You Own a Trailer with Recalled Axles: If you have purchased a trailer with recalled axles (7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler) please contact Besser’s Quality Assurance Representative [email protected] or 903-653-4733. Dealers will inspect the axle serial numbers, and replace the axles as necessary, free of charge. Serial Numbers (2020016751, 2020016752, 2020016757, 2020016758, 2020016759, 2020016760) Phone: 903-378-3303 Email: [email protected] 17177 US-82 Petty, TX 75470 If East Texas Trailers is unable to arrange service as described above without charge within a 60 day period upon contacting Braun Industries, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590 or call toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. Any lessor who receives a notification of a determination of a safety-related defect or noncompliance pertaining to any leased motor vehicle shall send a copy of such notice to the lessee of a leased motor vehicle, by first-class mail to the most recent lessee known to the lessor. Such notification shall be mailed within ten days of the lessor’s receipt of the notification from the vehicle manufacturer. This requirement applies to both initial and follow-up notifications but does not apply where the manufacturer has notified a lessor’s lessees directly. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, we are taking this action in the interest of our customers personal safety and satisfaction with our products. We appreciate your cooperation on this important matter. Sincerely, Nathan Fehr East Texas Trailers

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Submission Date : OCT 03, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22V-735 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Address : 17177 US-82 Petty TX 75470 Company phone : 903-378-3303 Population : Number of potentially involved : 3 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2021-2021 East Texas Trailers Tank Trailer Vehicle Type : TRAILERS Body Style : Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : Besser informed us about the defective axles, and we looked at our inventory and determined the amount of trailers that used the axle. The 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Axle (TS70740580865CITC ) was used on the Tank Trailers. Production Dates : OCT 18, 2021 – JUL 21, 2022 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The weld that joins the spindle and the main axle may have been improperly placed. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : It could cause cracking or separation of the axle from the spindle increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : NR Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : NR Involved Components : Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Component Name 1 : Axle Component Description : 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Component Part Number : NR Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Besser Pro, LLC Address : 1500 30th St NW Paris Texas 75460 Country : United States Chronology : NR Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : East Texas Trailers will inform dealers of the recalled axle. If a subject has said axle they can contact the dealer. The dealer then can contact Besser to get the replacement axles. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : For replacement axles, Besser will inspect welds and replace suspect axles with new axles manufactured with the correct weld settings. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The auto-welding machine that resulted in the suspect welds has been recalibrated. The welding head was adjusted to correct position to ensure equal weld penetration on both components being joined. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : NR Planned Dealer Notification Date : OCT 04, 2022 – NOV 30, 2022 Planned Owner Notification Date : NR – NR * NR – Not Reported

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Submission Date : OCT 07, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22V-735 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Address : 17177 US-82 Petty TX 75470 Company phone : 903-378-3303 Population : Number of potentially involved : 3 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2021-2021 East Texas Trailers Tank Trailer Vehicle Type : TRAILERS Body Style : Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : Besser informed us about the defective axles, and we looked at our inventory and determined the amount of trailers that used the axle. The 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Axle (TS70740580865CITC ) was used on the Tank Trailers. Production Dates : OCT 18, 2021 – JUL 21, 2022 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The weld that joins the spindle and the main axle may have been improperly placed. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : It could cause cracking or separation of the axle from the spindle increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : NR Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : NR Involved Components : Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Component Name 1 : Axle Component Description : 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Component Part Number : NR Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Besser Pro, LLC Address : 1500 30th St NW Paris Texas 75460 Country : United States Chronology : July 2022 Besser notified East Texas Trailers of the recall of the 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Axle (TS70740580865CITC ). Sept 3-5 2022 Figured out what trailers the axles went on, Reviewed older invoices to see what dealers those recalled axles went to. Sept 6 2022 We checked to see if there has been any warranty clams on trailer with that axle and there has not been any claims yet. Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : East Texas Trailers will inform dealers of the recalled axle. If a subject has said axle, contact Besser to get a replacement axle. If you purchased replacement axle for recalled 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler from East Texas Trailers prior to Besser recall contact East Texas Trailers to discuss reimbursement options. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : For replacement axles, Besser will inspect welds and replace suspect axles with new axles manufactured with the correct weld settings. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The auto-welding machine that resulted in the suspect welds has been recalibrated. The welding head was adjusted to correct position to ensure equal weld penetration on both components being joined. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : NR Planned Dealer Notification Date : OCT 04, 2022 – NOV 30, 2022 Planned Owner Notification Date : OCT 17, 2022 – DEC 09, 2022 * NR – Not Reported

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OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Submission Date : OCT 07, 2022 NHTSA Recall No. : 22V-735 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Texas Trailer Address : 17177 US-82 Petty TX 75470 Company phone : 903-378-3303 Population : Number of potentially involved : 3 Estimated percentage with defect : 1 % Vehicle Information : Vehicle 1 : 2021-2021 East Texas Trailers Tank Trailer Vehicle Type : TRAILERS Body Style : Power Train : NR Descriptive Information : Besser informed us about the defective axles, and we looked at our inventory and determined the amount of trailers that used the axle. The 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Axle (TS70740580865CITC ) was used on the Tank Trailers. Production Dates : OCT 18, 2021 – JUL 21, 2022 VIN Range 1 : Begin : NR End : NR Not sequential Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The weld that joins the spindle and the main axle may have been improperly placed. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : It could cause cracking or separation of the axle from the spindle increasing the risk of a crash. Description of the Cause : NR Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : NR Involved Components : Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Component Name 1 : Axle Component Description : 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Component Part Number : NR Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : Besser Pro, LLC Address : 1500 30th St NW Paris Texas 75460 Country : United States Chronology : July 2022 Besser notified East Texas Trailers of the recall of the 7K 74 HF 58 SC Idler Axle (TS70740580865CITC ). Sept 3-5 2022 Figured out what trailers the axles went on, Reviewed older invoices to see what dealers those recalled axles went to. Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : East Texas Trailers will inform dealers of the recalled axle. If a subject has said axle they can contact the dealer. The dealer then can contact Besser to get the replacement axles. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : For replacement axles, Besser will inspect welds and replace suspect axles with new axles manufactured with the correct weld settings. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The auto-welding machine that resulted in the suspect welds has been recalibrated. The welding head was adjusted to correct position to ensure equal weld penetration on both components being joined. Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : NR Planned Dealer Notification Date : OCT 04, 2022 – NOV 30, 2022 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 22V-735 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Planned Owner Notification Date : OCT 17, 2022 – DEC 09, 2022 * NR – Not Reported

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