Consumer Complaint Detail

HENSLEY / ARROW HITCH / 9999

Recalls
2 Injured
Investigations
0 Death
Complaints
Yes Fire
Components - Details
NHTSA Complaint Number: 005051765 Incident Date: Mar, 20 2005
Consumer's City: GREENSBORO Consumer's State: NC
Vehicle Transmission Type: Manufacturers Name: HENSLEY MFG. INC.
Model Name: ARROW HITCH Model Year: 9999
Vehicle Involved in a Crash: Yes Component's Description: Trailer hitches
Vehicle Involved in a Fire: Yes Persons Injured: 2
Vehicle's VIN#: Date added to File: May, 23 2021
Date Complaint Received: Jan, 03 2006 Complaint Type: EVOQ
Incident Reported To Police: Yes Purchase Date: -
Was Original Owner: No Anti-lock Brakes: No
Number of Cylinders: 0 Date of Manufacturer: -
Was Vehicle Towed: - Description of the Complaints: Dt*: the contact stated an after market trailer hitch was purchased. the hitch was installed on a 2003 ford extended van and was attached to a 1997 airstream travel trailer that was 34 feet long and eight and half feet wide. the hitch was suppose to allow the tow vehicle to control the direction of the trailer. however, an inner piece of the hitch failed. the hitch has a spring bar accompanied by a grease zerk. the grease zerk is a hollow bar-like housing about the length of the human finger that has a knob on top. the grease zerk's knob broke off and allowed the trailer to sway back and forth on the highway. the hitch came apart , and due to the uncontrollable swaying, the contact lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a crash. after colliding with a guard rail the lock pin pulled loose from the hitch and the trailer separated from the vehicle. the trailer stopped by itself with an emergency braking device. the vehicle rolled and came to a stop upside down along the road side. once the vehicle stopped a fire erupted from the battery compartment area while the passengers were still inside. the passengers escaped with minor injuries. the fire department extinguished the fire. a police report was taken at the scene. both the vehicle and trailer were determined totaled by the insurance adjustor. *ak