Coachmen Industries, Inc.: Trailer Hitches
Coachmen Industries, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Sep 12, 2000 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 1,953. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTH WHEEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEKONSHA OR BARGMAN BREAKAWAY SWITCH ASSEMBLIES. THE SUBJECT SWITCHES ARE BASE PARTS 2011 AND 50-85-009, AND ARE BRANDED TEKONSHA (2011) AND BARGMAN (50-85-009). THESE MAY BE PACKAGED IN KIT NUMBERS 1026, 1028, 2011-23, 2028-23, 2011P, 2011AP, 20005, 20010, 20015, 20020, 2026, 2026-LB, 2028, 1026-LB, 50-85-200, 50-85-201, 50-85-250, 5061404, 5061406, 5061407, 5061408, 5061410, 5061506, 5061507, 5061508, 5067406, 5067407, 5067408, 5067409, AND 5067410. THE INTERNAL SWITCHING MECHANISM MAY FAIL TO MAKE PROPER CONTACT AND PROVIDE ELECTRICAL CONTINUITY WHEN THE BREAKAWAY PIN IS PULLED. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE TRAILER BRAKES IN THE EVENT OF A TRAILER BREAKAWAY SITUATION AND COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A TRAILER BREAKING LOOSE FROM A TOW VEHICLE, THE MALFUNCTION OF A BREAKAWAY SWITCH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR BOTH.
The remedy
TEKONSHA IS NOTIFYING DISTRIBUTORS AND ORIGINAL EQUPIMENT MANUFACTURERS AND WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BREAKAWAY DEVICE WITH NEW BREAKAWAY KITS FREE OF CHARGE. ALSO, TEKONSHA WILL REIMBURSE FOR ALL FREIGHT CHARGES TO AND FROM ITS CUSTOMERS ON RECALLED PART NUMBER.
7 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Coachmen Catalina | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Coachmen Futura | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Coachmen Lite FW | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Coachmen Lite TT | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Coachmen Prospera | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Coachmen Royal | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Shasta Cadet | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 00V265001.
Full record for the 2000 Coachmen Catalina → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →