Travel trailer users: Recall of 145,000 hitch receiver locks may involve you

If you use a Reese hitch receiver lock on your travel trailer, heads up. There’s a hitch receiver lock recall involving a huge number of these two-piece locks. The problem: They could separate while you drive. If they do, your trailer hitch can part ways with your tow vehicle—and your trailer right along with it. If your hitch receiver lock is Reese-branded, pay close attention.

Horizon Global (Horizon) is recalling certain Reese Hitch Receiver Locks with part numbers 7057030, 7057230, 7057033, 7054630, and 7057130. The cap on the receiver lock may become loose and separate from the pin. A separated cap can allow the hitch to separate, which may result in tow vehicle detachment and increase the risk of a crash. Potentially 145,431 hitch receiver locks are affected by this recall.

Hitch receiver lock recall remedy

Dealers will replace the hitch receiver locks, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed February 5, 2025. Owners may contact Horizon Global customer service at 1-248-593-8810.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.

Hitch receiver lock recall background

Back in January 2024, Horizon received a report of a “detached receiver lock causing minor property damage.” Horizon reviewed the product design and consulted with the supplier. Horizon determined that the product did not meet design specifications, which called for a single-piece design rather than two-piece design, and shipping was halted on June 10, 2024, as the issue was investigated further.

From July through September, the company tested sample parts. They were tested to evaluate potential thermal expansion as a causal factor and to evaluate adhesive materials used by the supplier. The evaluation indicated that a sub-par thread adhesive was used during manufacture.

From October through December, the company contemplated doing further testing to check how the locks reacted to shaking and vibration. In the end, they passed on it, “due to the lack of objective standards against which to apply any results.” However, they did a deep dive by searching and analyzing warranty claims, tech line calls and complaints, product reviews, and labor claims over the last four years. The results? “No additional failures or pattern could be confirmed,” says a company report to NHTSA.

Finally, on December 20, 2024, Horizon decided on the recall “out of an abundance of caution.” We should note that Horizon could only confirm one report of a failure based on this problem.

For more RV and RV-related recalls, click here.

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