Bumper Reinforcement Gusset Absent/FMVSS 223, 224 – 2018-2019 Fruehauf FB Trailers

September 18, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V564000

Bumper Reinforcement Gusset Absent/FMVSS 223, 224

If the gusset is missing, a passenger car may go under the trailer during a rear impact crash, increasing the risk of injury to passenger(s).

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V564

Manufacturer Fruehauf de Mexico SA de CV

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 70

 

Summary

Fruehauf De Mexico SA DE CV (Fruehauf) is recalling certain 2018-2019 FB 53 68,000 lbs GVWR trailers. A bumper reinforcement gusset was mistakenly omitted. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 223, “Rear Impact Guards” and 224, “Rear Impact Protection.”

 

Remedy

Fruehauf will notify owners, and dealers will install the bumper gusset, free of charge. The recall began January 10, 2021. Owners may contact Fruehauf customer service at 52-55-5898-7800 (International). Fruehauf’s number for this recall is 3AW (WMI).

 

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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PROCEDURE FOR REINFORCEMENT GUSSET INSTALLATION FOR STAINLESS STEEL REAR IMPACT GUARD (BUMPER)

 

Parts supplied:

(2) SS Gusset Reinforcements

(4) ¾ dia. x 1 ¾” length grade 8 Bolts

(4) ¾” grade 8 Hex Head Lock Nuts

(8) ¾” hardened washers

(2) 1 1/2” dia. x 3” length Solid Steel Stop Bar

 

Step No. 1 – Inspect original Rear Impact Guard and attachment connections free of any damage –If any damage is found, document with pictures and description of damage and send to OEM prior to repair. 

 

Step No. 2 Remove rear stop bar

• Cut stop bar off inside of the “Z” slider rail on both sides
• Grind surface smooth inside slider rail free of burrs
• Keep remainder part of stop bar in place welded on external side of slider rail – (as shown)

Cut bar in this section

Keep stop bar welded in place on outside of “Z” rail

 

Step No. 3 Clamp in correct position reinforcement gusset to Z slider rail and vertical impact guard (as shown below) 

Reinforcement gusset tight to vertical impact guard plate

Locate reinforcement gusset flush on top surface of rail

 

Step No. 4 Drill (2) 13/16” diameter holes in each Z slider rail using reinforcement gusset as template. 

 

• Use a reinforcement gusset as a template and punch mark inside of Z rail for hole locations
• Drill two 13/16” diameter holes per punch mark (both rails)

 

Step No. 5 Attachment installation

• Attach the reinforcement gusset to each rail with a 3/4″ diameter, grade 8 bolt, 3/4″ lock nut, grade C and (2) hardened washers per each bolt and nut.
• Torque of the bolts should be at 223 lb.-ft.

Lock nut and washer

Bolt -3/4” Grade 8

 

Step No. 6 Welding the gusset  

• Weld the vertical flange on the bumper.
• Use stainless steel welding 308 LSI (recommended MIG, wire Diam. 0.045”)

Weld this section (outside of gusset)

 

Step No. 7 Weld stop bar –

• Install the 1 ½” x 3” stop bar in the fourth hole from rear of the “Z rail” – each rail (see picture)

Stop bar

 

Weld all around the stop bar on outside of the ”Z” slider rail

 

• Use steel welding ER-70S-6 or 7018

 

• Clean weld and surface and paint with polyurethane paint

 

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PROCEDURE FOR CHANGING THE GALVANIZED / STAINLESS STEEL REAR IMPACT GUARD (BUMPER)

Parts supplied:

(1) Galvanized or Stainless Steel Bumper Assembly

(4) ¾” dia. X 1 ¾” length grade 8 bolts

(4) ¾” grade 8 hex head lock nuts

(8) ¾” hardened washers

(2) 1 1/2” dia. X 3” length solid steel stop bars

 

Step No. 1 Take off current galvanized /bumper

• Remove bolts and nuts that hold the bumper to rear frame structure (retain fasteners for use in installing new bumper)
• Remove the bumper

 

Step No. 2 – Inspect attachment connections free of any damage –If any damage is found, document with pictures and description of damage and send to OEM prior to repair

 

Step No. 3 Remove rear stop bar

• Cut stop bar off inside of the “Z” slider rail on both sides
• Grind surface smooth inside slider rail free of burrs
• Keep remainder part of stop bar in place welded on external side of slider rail – (as shown)

Cut bar in this section

Keep stop bar welded in place on outside of “Z” rail

 

Step No. 4 Attach new bumper to rear frame

• Attach the bumper to rear frame structure with fasteners removed (3/4″ diameter, grade 8 bolt, 3/4″ lock nut, grade C and (2) hardened washers per each bolt and nut).
• Torque of the bolts should be at 223 lb.-ft.

Bolt -3/4” Grade 8 and washer

Lock nut and washer

 

Step No. 5 Drill (2) 13/16” diameter holes in each Z slider rail using reinforcement gusset as template. 

• Use a reinforcement gusset as a template and punch mark inside of Z rail for hole locations Drill two 13/16” diameter holes per punch mark (both rails)

Punch mark (2) holes on Z rail

Drilled (2) holes shown in c/s Z rail

 

Step No. 6 Attachment installation

• Attach the reinforcement gusset to each rail with a 3/4″ diameter, grade 8 bolt, 3/4″ lock nut, grade C and (2) hardened washers per each bolt and nut.
• Torque of the bolts should be at 223 lb.-ft.

Lock nut and washer

Bolt -3/4” Grade 8

 

Step No. 7 Weld stop bar 

• Install the 1 ½” x 3” stop bar in the fourth hole from rear of the “Z rail” – each rail (see picture)

Stop bar

 

Weld all around the stop bar on outside of the ”Z” rail

 

• Use steel welding ER-70S-6 or 7018

 

• Clean weld and surface and paint with polyurethane paint

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

 

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Frnehauf de Mexico has determined that a safety noncompliance for a motor vehicle exists in the rear impact guard and components which fails to conf01m to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 223 /224 Rear Impact Guard, with the following 70 units:

 

! I M P O R T A N T !

• The Rear Impact Guard is missing the Bumper Reinforcement Gusset and is being recalled
• The Bumper Reinforcement Gusset is being sent to your facility and will be installed by a repair facility. The repair facility will be contacting you directly once the repair facility is determined.
• If the Rear Impact Guard has already received damage, a full Rear Impact Guard will be installed based on the repair and guidelines defined by the original manufacturer, Fruehauf.
• The repair requirements and guidelines will be sent to the repair center making the repairs.
• The repair is at no cost to the owner and is offered free of charge including parts, labor and handling fees.
• Please have the subject units identified for the recall available for the repair procedure

 

Please note that the subject units do not have the correct rear impact guard and if involved in a rear end accident with a passenger car may allow the passenger car to go under the trailer and result in a possible injury to the occupants.

 

Please contact Fruehauf with any out of pocket expense you may incur during this recall repair.

 

If any of these units have been sold to a third party, please forward this notice ASAP to the third party and send Fruehauf a notice of the new owner’s contact information.

 

If after having attempted to take advantage of this recall you believe you have not been able to have your trailers remedied without charge and within a reasonable amount of time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C., 20590; or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience this safety recall may cause, but your safety is our first concern.

 

Sincerely,

 

Don Brown
USA Commercial Director
Fruehauf

 

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2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
FRUEHAUF	FRUEHAUF	2018-2019

 

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8 Associated Documents

Noncompliance Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V564-1388.PDF 215.907KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V564-6827.pdf 244.782KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V564-4133.pdf 615.498KB

 

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Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-20V564-0961.pdf 867.607KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20V564-2514.pdf 273.755KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V564-5243.pdf 267.415KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20V564-3647.PDF 211.152KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20V564-1384.PDF 211.253KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V564&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2025-04-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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