Charles Machine Works Inc: Suspension › Rear
Charles Machine Works Inc reported this defect to federal regulators on May 6, 1997 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 88. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS. INCORRECT SEALS WERE INSTALLED IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLIES.
The risk
THE INCORRECT SEAL CAN ALLOW GREASE TO LEAK ONTO THE BRAKES, REDUCING THE BRAKING CAPABILITY OF THE TRAILER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT SEALS IN THE WHEEL ASSSEMBLIES.
6 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Ditch Witch S5a | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Ditch Witch T141 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Ditch Witch T14ae | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Ditch Witch S5a | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Ditch Witch T141 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Ditch Witch T14ae | 0 | 3 | 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 97V076000.
Full record for the 1997 Ditch Witch S5a → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →