Trailer may Detach from Tow Vehicle – 2019-2020 Airstream Trailers

October 21, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V753000

Trailer may Detach from Tow Vehicle

If the coupler separates from the tow ball, the trailer can detach from the tow vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V753

Manufacturer Airstream, Inc.

Components TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,888

 

Summary

Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Sport, Nest, Flying Cloud, International Serenity, International Signature, Classic, Globetrotter and Tommy Bahama trailers and 2020 Basecamp, Bambi and Caravel trailers. Due to improper welding, the Demco ball coupler installed on the travel trailers may not provide enough clamping force on the tow ball, potentially causing the coupler to separate from the tow ball.

 

Remedy

Airstream will notify owners, and will send a temporary use adaptor that can be slipped over the ball portion of the coupler to allow owners to tow their trailers. For the final remedy, dealers will add a shim plate to the backside of the ball coupler clamp to put it in position to apply the required clamping force on the tow ball, free of charge. The recall began November 13, 2019. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 extension 7401 or 7411.

 

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.safercar.gov.

 

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RECREATIONAL VEHICLE SAFETY
RECALL NOTICE
Safety Recall:
NHTSA 19V-753/Transport Canada 2019-529

Safety Advisory:
March 12, 2020

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL 

This notice applies to your vehicle:  «VIN»

«Owner_name»
«Street»
«City», «State»  «Zip»

 

Dear «Owner_name»:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Airstream has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2019 and 2020 model year Airstream travel trailers. As a result, Airstream is conducting a safety recall.

Reason for this recall	Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Sport, Nest, Flying Cloud, International Serenity, International Signature, Classic, Globetrotter and Tommy Bahama trailers and 2020 Basecamp, Bambi and Caravel trailers. Due to improper welding, the Demco ball coupler installed on the travel trailers may not provide enough clamping force on the tow ball, potentially causing the coupler to separate from the tow ball. If the coupler separates from the tow ball, the trailer can detach from the tow vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
What we will do	Airstream will be shipping a temporary coupler lock with installation instructions for owners to install prior to towing their travel trailers to their nearest dealer for inspection. If the coupler fails inspection, a shim plate will be added to the backside of the ball coupler clamp to put it in position to apply the required clamping force on the tow ball. This will be done at no cost to the owner. If the coupler passes inspection, no further repairs are needed.
What we need you to do	You should contact your selling dealer immediately to schedule a service appointment to have the inspection performed on your vehicle. If you have any questions concerning this recall or if you need any assistance, please contact the Airstream Customer Service Department by mail at Airstream, P.O. Box 629, Jackson Center, OH 45334-0629, or by phone at 937-596-6111 ext. 7491. If you have had the appropriate repairs completed prior to receipt of this recall notice, and if you incurred any direct cost in connection with obtaining such repair, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement from Airstream by contacting the Airstream Customer Service Department.

 

If after contacting Airstream Customer Service you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this situation, you may also submit a written complaint to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590. You may call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY:  1-800-424-9153; or go to https://www.safercar.gov.) Federal regulations require that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

We apologize for any inconvenience this action may cause you; however, your safety and continued satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us.  Thank you for your attention and cooperation in this matter.

 

Sincerely,

Airstream

 

Rick March
General Manager of Airstream Customer Support Group
cc:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

 

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DEMCO COUPLER LOCKOUT

Part REF#	Part #	Description	Qty
1	00523	BOLT .375NC X1.25 GR5 HEX	4
2	00060	WASHER SPRING LOCK .375	4
3	69883	Top Plate	1
4	69885	1/4″ GA Shim Plates	2
5	69884	Bottom Plate	2
6	69886	Coupler lock Wrench	1
NA	12329	SAF-T-LOK T42 .5ml	1

 

Installation Instructions

1. Attach coupler to tow vehicle with 2-5/16^th Hitch Ball.
2. Disassemble Lockout assembly and pre-apply 1-2 drops of Saf-T-Lok thread locker to each of the supplied 3/8” bolts.

Thread locker should be applied to the first few threads of bolt.

3. Place the top plate around the nose of the coupler ball socket making sure it is firmly seated (Fig A)
4. Next take one of the Bottom plates and slide it forward around the back side of the hitch ball on the underside  of the coupler until the top and bottom plate mounting  holes align (FIG B)
5. Next slide a shim in between the top and bottom plates on each side of the coupler (Fig C). Then thread 2 of the  provided 3/8 bolts and lock washers into the rear mounting holes.  Note – LOCK WASHERS AND THREAD LOCKER MUST BE USED
6. Use the Remaining bottom plate and slide it in around the front of the hitch ball until the front mounting holes are aligned, using the remaining bolts and washers to thread into the front 2 mount holes Note – LOCK WASHERS AND THREAD LOCKER MUST BE USED
7. Before tightening the 3/8 mounting bolts, ensure that coupler lock assembly is pushed back all the way on the coupler nose. Keep pressure on the lockout assembly until all 4 mounting bolts are finger tight (Fig-D). Continue to tighten all 4-mounting bolts until lock washers are fully collapsed. Use pattern indicated below in Fig-D to tighten bolts.

NOTE – The coupler Lock must be removed before un-hooking the coupler

 

WI00878  10/25/19 Rev 0

 

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DEMCO COUPLER SHIM KIT

Coupler Part Reference sheet
Part Ref#	Part #	Description	Qty	Notes
1	13427 & 13765	Handle & Stem Assy.	1	REUSED
2	13690	Coupler Spring	1	REUSED
3	14461	Coupler Spacer	1	REUSED
4	16894	Primary Coupler Shim	1	INCLD in KIT
5	13766	Coupler Ball Clamp	1	REUSED
6	13186	.25 Button Head Screw	2	INCLD in KIT
7	16895	Secondary Coupler Shim	1	INCLD in KIT

 

Shim Identification
Primary Shim	Color – Silver Zinc Solid Face – No Notch Thickest Shim
Secondary Shim	Color -Yellow Zinc Notched Face Thinner Shim

 

Step 1 – Use the Demco supplied service limit gauge to verify that coupler is within service limits of the shim kit.

NOTE- If coupler fails the service limit gauge, the entire coupler weldment must be replaced.

 

Step 2 – Remove the .25” button head screw with a 5/32 allen wrench to disassemble the coupler.

Dispose of the old screw, do not reuse.

 

Step 3 – Utilizing the primary shim provided in the shim kit, reassemble the coupler by first inserting the handle and stem assembly through the top of the coupler if it was removed in the prior steps. From the bottom side of the coupler, slide the spring over the coupler stem. NOTE – The spring does not have a specific orientation, it may be installed in any direction.

Next install the spacer block over the stem.

NOTE –There are 2 holes in the spacer block.

Be sure to insert the stem into the hole labeled 2.313. Next set the shim over the ball clamp and align the square holes. While holding the stem and handle assembly down, push the ball clamp and shim on to the stem. This will compress the spring and allow the ball clamp to slide over the square stem.

 

Step 4 – Use the new button head screw with pre-applied Loctite that is supplied with the shim kit to finish the assembly. Insert the screw through the ball clamp and thread it into the stem with a 5/32 allen wrench. Screw must be torqued 90-in lbs. with applicable torque wrench.

 

Step 5 – Insert a 2-5/16” hitch ball firmly up into the coupler socket to check coupler operation. Ensure that the coupler fully closes with a ball in the socket. The coupler latch should open as hitch ball is inserted. When ball is firmly in the socket the latch should lower back down.

NOTE – The coupler is fully closed when handle is resting on the top of the coupler body. See Fig – A

 

Step 6 – IMPORTANT – If coupler does not close with primary Shim installed, remove primary shim and install Secondary Shim with the second .25 Button head screw provided with the shim kit. Again, Insert a 2-5/16” hitch ball firmly up into the coupler socket to check coupler operation. Ensure that the coupler fully closes with a ball in the socket. See Fig A Step 7 – Rotate 2 – 5/16 in coupler socket. Ball Should rotate Freely with little to no resistance

 

WI00880 11/11/19 Rev 0

 

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COUPLER QUICK CHECK TOOL INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1 – Lift Latch Handle. the coupler must remain in the open position to test.

 

Coupler fails if tool fits flush between front lip and back

 

 

Step 2 – Insert the tool into the ball socket. Make sure the front of the tool is being pressed firmly into the lip of the coupler.

 

Coupler passes if tool does not fit flush between front lip and back

 

 

NOTE: Coupler Tool must be oriented in the center of the Coupler Socket.

 

WI00877 10/15/19 Rev 0

 

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Coupler Service Limit Gauge

 

Step 1 – Lift Latch Handle. The coupler must remain in the open position to test.

 

Step 2 – Insert the tool into the Ball socket, with front of the tool being pressed firmly into the lip of the coupler first.

 

NON-serviceable Coupler – The entire coupler weldment must be replaced

Coupler is not serviceable if tool fits flush between front lip and Back Wall

 

Serviceable Coupler- Proceed to install Shim Kit

Coupler is serviceable if tool does not fit flush between the front lip and back wall.

Install Shim Kit

 

Coupler quick check tool instructions

NOTE – Coupler Tool must be orientated in the center of the Coupler socket

 

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17 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
AIRSTREAM	BAMBI	2020
AIRSTREAM	BASECAMP	2020
AIRSTREAM	CARAVEL	2020
AIRSTREAM	CLASSIC	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	FLYING CLOUD	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	GLOBETROTTER	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	INTERNATIONAL	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	NEST	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	SPORT	2019-2020
AIRSTREAM	TOMMY BAHAMA	2019-2020

 

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11 Associated Documents

Recall 573 Report – Amendment 2

RCLRPT-19V753-7545.PDF 214.79KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-19V753-1139.pdf 304.263KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-19V753-5774.pdf 725.619KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-19V753-6200.pdf 427.017KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-19V753-7633.pdf 507.132KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19V753-5959.PDF 211.237KB

 

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ISSUED Renotification Notice – Airstream Owners Letter Travel Trailer Demco Hitch Coupler 2nd Mailing 031220

RCRN-19V753-0712.pdf 30.294KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-2

RCLQRT-19V753-4324.PDF 211.324KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V753-9253.PDF 214.059KB

 

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Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-19V753-1079.PDF 214.747KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V753-9906.pdf 245.7KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V753&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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