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
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. 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
- 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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