NHTSA campaign 19V490000 · Charles Machine campaign ID0568989
Charles Machine Recall 19V-490: Lock Nuts may Allow Trailer Hitch to Disconnect
NHTSA recall 19V490000 (Charles Machine campaign ID0568989) was reported by Charles Machine Works Inc on June 25, 2019, with 290 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Charles Machine Ditch Witch for model years 2018–2019. Owners were notified on June 28, 2019, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 19V490000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 19V490000 (also written 19V-490 or 19V490)
- Filed by
- Charles Machine Works Inc
- Charles Machine campaign number
- ID0568989
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 290 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Trailer Hitches
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 55.52% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 19V490000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Charles Machine
All Charles Machine recallsNHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 19V490000.
Defect description
Charles Machine Works Inc (Charles Machine) is recalling certain 2018 Ditch Witch VT17, 2018-2019 VT20 and VT24 trailers. The lock nuts that attach the hitch to the trailer may be insufficient to clamp the load after the hitch height has been adjusted.
Safety consequence
Without a sufficient clamp load, the hitch may unexpectedly detach from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Charles Machine has notified owners, and will provide new hardware, free of charge. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact Charles Machine customer service at 1-800-654-6481. Charles Machine's number for this recall is ID0568989.
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.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 19V490000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.