Insecure Locking Receiver Hitch Pin Connection - B&W 5/8" Stainless Steel Locking Receiver Hitch Pins

May 5, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21E042000

Insecure Locking Receiver Hitch Pin Connection

A detached ball mount can allow the towed trailer to separate, increasing the risk of a crash.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E042

Manufacturer B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc.

Components TRAILER HITCHES

Potential Number of Units Affected 8,378

Summary

B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc. (B&W) is recalling certain 5/8″ Stainless Steel Locking Receiver Hitch Pins, part number TS51237 and TS51237JD. A defective hitch pin lock can be removed without a key, allowing the ball mount to detach from the receiver tube.

Remedy

Dealers and will replace the locking hitch pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 17, 2021. Owners may contact B&W customer service at 1-620-473-3664.

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.

May 13, 2021

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE

Dear :

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

B&W Custom Truck Beds, Inc. (B&W) has decided that a safety defect exists in certain B&W branded locking receiver hitch pins that B&W sells. Accordingly, a recall to address this issue is being initiated effective immediately.

The defect involves the 5/8” Stainless Steel Locking Receiver Hitch Pin offered alone, and separately bundled with certain Tow & Stow models. These locking receiver hitch pins were offered for sale between March 6, 2020 and April 28, 2021. The product is pictured on the other side of this page. The receiver hitch pin connects to the lock component from the side, not the end.

A design defect in the lock component of the product may allow it to unlock without the key, and with minimal rotation of the lock mechanism. It is possible the lock component may detach from the receiving hitch pin component during use, and if this occurs, a trailer under tow may potentially separate from the tow vehicle, especially if inadequate safety chains were employed. This condition may occur without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

What We Will Do

B&W will provide you with a credit to your account, or a refund, for each affected product you have, that you return, at our expense.

B&W will notify product owners by mail about the recall, instructing owners to contact B&W at [email protected] to arrange for their locking hitch pin to be replaced.

What You Should Do

Discontinue sales of the 5/8” Stainless Steel Locking Receiver Hitch Pin immediately, including part numbers where the product is bundled with a Tow & Stow. Attached is a list of affected product numbers.

Report to us the number of affected products you currently have in-stock.

Gather contact information for all affected product sales between March 6, 2020 and now. It is imperative that you do this as soon as possible. B&W will then contact these customers to notify them of the issue, and coordinate to replace their locking hitch pins.

Email [email protected], or call 844-558-1525 in order to report the above information.

Please be reminded that it is a violation of Federal law for you to sell products affected by this recall until the hitch pins have been replaced. Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.

We regret the inconvenience this recall will cause and thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

B&W Trailer Hitches

AFFECTED PRODUCT

DATE OF SALE: March 6, 2020 to April 28, 2021.

The following B&W product numbers within the above dates are affected:

Products sold alone: TS51237 & TS51237JD

Products sold bundled with Tow & Stow: