Vehicle recall 85V173000 · December 26, 1985

1984-1985 Automatic Equipment Automatic Equipment

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Consequence: These cracks eventually increase and fatigue the tongue mount to the point where the trailer could break away from the car and roll uncontrollably on the highway and possibly cause an accident.
Remedy: Reinforcement angle plates will be welded to the under side of the tongue mount and any of the potential crack areas which have cracks will be rewelded.
Notes: System: frame/structure.vehicle description: car trailer. Descriptionof defect: the tongue mount welds at the main point of attachmentto the trailer cracks due to unexpected stresses.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign: 85V173000
Reported to NHTSA: December 26, 1985
Filed by: AUTOMATIC EQUIP. MFG. CO.
Owner notification: January 30, 1986
Vehicles potentially affected: 500
Initiated by: the manufacturer
Components: Trailer hitches

Recall 85V173000 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

Automatic Equipment Automatic Equipment (1984-1985): 1985, 1984

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