Trailer hitch recall

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Has anyone replaced their trailer hitch themselfs, before DC's recall? And if so,did DC offer to re-imburse you for your costs.

Thanks,

Earle

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98 ISB,2wh dr. leather, power everything, ac cruise, tilt,am/fm/cd, trailer tow, factory bedliner, mud flaps, 30' Holiday Rambler 5th wheel.

 

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1. There are numurous messages about this topic in other parts of thi TDR forum. Try doing a search on trailer hitch. From what I read, the answer is yes.

2. I am getting a refund because I insisted that I did not want a MOPAR replacement. The heaviest duty they have is the class III that was on my 98. 5 truck and all they were going to do was replace it with the same one and put the additional brackets on it.

3. My dealer's service mgr. contacted the zone warranty mgr. and was told that it is illegal for them to refund once a recall was issued and refused to refund me. The svc. mgr. suggested I call DC's customer service 800 number and ask for a refund.

4. I called the Dpt. of Trans. offices that actually issued the recall and talked with two different employees who were involved with the recall and informed that there is no such law. The federal law mandates that once the recall is issued, Chrysler must replace every hitch brought in, but does not prohibit them from issuing a refund instead of replacing the hitch, nor does it require them to issue a refund. Refunds are strictly based on company policy.

5. I then called the 800 number and was informed that it is company policy not to issue refunds but will only replace the item. I argued that my hitch is defective, that I want a heavier duty hitch, that Chrysler does not sell one, and that I do not want that one back on.

6. She pulled up my info on her computer and said that there was no recall issued on my truck. It turns out that if your hitch was installed at the dealer ship rather than the factory, DC has no record of it. However, they did still acknowledge that the hitch, not the truck, is the subject of the recall.
7. Because my truck did not have a recall notice issued against it, company policy allows a refund so she took that avenue to do so. My dealer has faxed them a copy of the original invoice listing the hitch and they are issuing a refund to me based on that. I have to return the hitch to my dealer.

8. I had a Draw Tite class 5 hitch installed yesterday for only $40 more than what I paid for the MOPAR class III hitch.


Hope this helps

 

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I did! In November of 99'. My OE hitch had a crack at the bend of the side rail + the hitch hole had elongated. I pull 7800# with 900# tongue and thought I was just at the OE hitch limit. Never dawned on me that the receiver might be faulty. I replaced the OE hitch with the DrawTite Ultra #41923. All the holes matched up--just had to ream them out. The DT used the 4th frame hole, which the OE only used 3 holes on the frame. Interesting rating difference between the OE and DT.
OE: WC;5000/500 WD; 10,000/1000
DT: WC;10,000/1000 WD; 12,000/1200
If I had taken just one trip to town without hooking up the weight carrying bars, I would have exceeded the OE hitch specs by almost twice. The DT does sit about a half inch closer to the frame so I had to lower the WC ball to the last notches.
Back to your question! I called the number on the recall notice and the DC rep told me to send in the invoice and they would consider reimbursement. That was about a week ago and I have not heard from them yet. Some other poster did report that DC called the shop that installed his hitch to verify the cost, type and date. My Dealer also said "not to worry" that DC would reimburse. The only arbitration will come if you put on one of those 14,000 pounders, which exceeds the rating of the truck. Kinda interesting - the DT hitch is thicker than the frame it mounts to. Now where is the "sacrificial anode"?

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99' Stock Quad 4x4 A/T LB 3. 54 30K Miles.
Did have both 18-11-99 & 18-08-99 TSB's performed.
Pull a 7000# Terry 26H TT over, around and thru the Cascades.

Founder/President of the: KISS MY DIESEL CLUB. Club Motto: "There's a sucker born every minute. "

 

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Does this hitch recall apply to the class 5 on my dually? There's a sticker on it giving the tow capacity as 10,000 pounds, I'm assuming it's a class 5. It sure don't look as sturdy as a DrawTite or Reese Titan...

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The "Fuzzy Mule" is: 2001 Ram 3500 4x4 Quad Cab,all black(Sport pkg. ) Cummins24v, 5speed, 3. 54,all options including leather , AMSOIL Dual Remote bypass oil filter,AMSOIL air filter,Westin black nerf bars, limo tint,DeeZee Platinum toolbox painted black to match, Line-X bedliner
NRA Life/Endowment member(it's about freedom, not guns!)

 

[Archive]

Thanks for all your reply's! I will call after the Holiday to ask about getting reimbursed.

Earle

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98 ISB,2wh dr. leather, power everything, ac cruise, tilt,am/fm/cd, trailer tow, factory bedliner, mud flaps, 30' Holiday Rambler 5th wheel.

 

[Archive]

DC told me last WED that a big shot in the zone would have a trailer hitch for me instlled by the weekend. Well we all know that was to get me off the phone, I added that if it was not installed I felt it was breech of my warranty, they have told me for 3 weeks they could not get the part, and would replace the hitch myself. I did sat and to my suprise the front two bolts had backed off and the center bolts were loose. :eck: Even if you don't get the hitch repair done check the bolts my truck was a St Louis truck.

 

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I replaced my optional OE trailer hitch with a Reese Titan V hitch this past week. What an awesome brute that thing is!

I would like to note that two of the four required mounting holes in EACH side of the hitch mounting leg had to be drilled through the HITCH on my '98. 5 LWB QC. The two holes that require drilling are #2 and #4 (assuming hole #1 is the REARWARD most hole). "Loosely mount" the hitch, scribing the hole locations that will require drilling, through the holes in the frame onto the hitch. I was told by Reese that this was necessary because this custom hitch fits such a wide variety of years and configurations (RC, CC, QC, SWB, LWB, prior as well as post '93 model years). I know one thing, it looks like Cummins designed it! #ad


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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4, (BLACK) SLT Sport, ISB, LWB, 3. 54 LSD, A/T, Glasstite Vision II canopy, Line-X bed liner, 285/75R16 BFG A/Ts on 16x8 M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares, front and rear NW Custom stainless steel/rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover and trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Mopar tow hooks, Reese Titan V hitch, Jordan Research Ultima 2020 trailer brake controller, VDO Vision gauges, '00 Sport grille, '00 Sport headlights with PIAA Super White 9007/9004 bulbs, 4-2-7+4 Brite-Box, PIAA Dual Sport 900 auxiliary lights, BD exhaust brake and TorqLoc, Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit, Bosch 275 hp. injectors, VA CPC, DD Boost Module, Banks Stinger wastegate actuator, "Scotty Air System", BLACK '00 valve cover, Banks Stinger 4" dia. stainless steel exhaust system, BD LV V10/Cummins hybrid TC and valve body, BD modified transmission front pump and PressureLoc, Reese Titan V hitch, plus many other trick modifications

 

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does this recall cover my 96 dually?

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1993 Dodge Prostock Daytona 7:70@172, 1987 Grand National 11:77@115, 1996 Dodge Ram 3500 Dually. Stock with a 5 speed, Home page http://www.home.earthlink.net/~whra3

 

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The hitch recall is for '98 and some '99 Rams ONLY.

 

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Received my check from DC for the installation of a new receiver yesterday. What a company!
BUT can you imagine the low bidder who got the order for the defective receivers? Wouldn't buy any of their stock! Musta been like the guy who got the order for the steel to make the Titanic!

 

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Yes D. C. will reimburse if you replaced hitch BEFORE the recall was issued. Nine days
after I sent my reciept I had a check in my
hot little hands. They were VERY nice & co-opertive.

Rick