The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·19V490000·Announced 2019-06-25

Charles Machine Recalls 2018-2019 Ditch Witch Trailers Due to Hitch Defect

Charles Machine is recalling 2018-2019 Ditch Witch trailers because hitch lock nuts may fail to clamp the load, increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where the hitch may detach, increasing the risk of a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects.

Plain-English summary

Charles Machine Works Inc is recalling certain 2018 Ditch Witch VT17, 2018-2019 VT20, and VT24 trailers. The recall involves 290 units. The defect is that the lock nuts attaching the hitch to the trailer may be insufficient to clamp the load after the hitch height has been adjusted.

Without a sufficient clamp load, the hitch may unexpectedly detach from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash. No injuries or deaths have been reported in the source text.

Owners should contact Charles Machine customer service at 1-800-654-6481 to schedule a free repair. The recall began on June 28, 2019. Charles Machine's number for this recall is ID0568989. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
CHARLES MACHINE DITCH WITCH
Brand
CHARLES MACHINE
Manufacturer
Charles Machine Works Inc
Category
Vehicle — Trailers
Hazard
Affected units
290

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • DITCH WITCH

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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