NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-039: Pintle Hook Loop Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-039 on December 9, 2013 and closed it on September 11, 2014. NHTSA's investigations file lists 4 Utility models for it and links recall 14V-463 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-039 (also written PE13039)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed September 11, 2014
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
- Component
- Trailer Hitches
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 14V-463: Pintle Hook Safety Loop, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 4 Utility models, including the 3000R and 3000R Multi-Temp
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-039.
The Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation based on its review of a service bulletin submitted by Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility).
The Service Bulletin (SB-07-011), contained in Utility?s July 2013 579.5 monthly submission, instructed owners of subject trailers to conduct an inspection of the pintle hook loop.
The inspection procedure involved striking the loop with a 10 pound sledge hammer and then inspecting it for cracks.
Due to a material defect, Utility informed owners there was a potential for the loop (that secures the trailers safety chains) to crack and fail.
If the loop fails, this redundant safety component becomes ineffective in retaining the trailer to the towing vehicle should the primary hitch fail or otherwise disconnect.
A trailer that has separated from its towing vehicle presents a risk to motor vehicle safety.
On July 30th 2014 Utility trailer submitted a voluntary safety recall notice (14V-463) for pintle hook safety chain loop failures.
The recall involves certain model year 2012-2014 VS1RA, and 2013-2014 VS1DC, VS2DX, VS2RA, VS3DX, and VS3RA trailers manufactured from April 2011 to May 2013.
Utility trailer dealers will inspect and replace the pintle hook safety chain loop as required.
This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-039. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Utility
Utility 3000R
Utility 3000R Multi-Temp
- 2012, 2013
Utility 4000D
- 2012, 2013
Utility 4000D-X Composite
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE13-039
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.