- Vehicles
- 264
- Built between
- Aug 2010 – Feb 2013
- Models
- 3
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- NHTSA investigation
- Owners notified
- 3 March 2014
- Repaired
- Not reported
- Unrepaired
- Not reported
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between August 2010 and February 2013. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 2011-2013 Hitchhiker Champagne EditionBuilt August 2010 to February 2013
- 2011-2013 Hitchhiker Discover AmericaBuilt August 2010 to February 2013
- 2011-2013 Hitchhiker LSBuilt August 2010 to February 2013
What the defect is
Nu Wa Industries Inc. (Nu Wa) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Hitchhiker LS, Discover America and Champagne Edition fifth wheel recreational trailers manufactured August 2010 through February 2013, and equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt.
What could happen
If the deadbolt jams, the interior side of the door lock may also jam. A person inside the trailer at the time will then be locked in and be unable to exit the vehicle without using the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.
What gets fixed
Nu Wa will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by the end of March 2014.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtAugust 2010 to February 2013
- Recall reported to NHTSA27 January 2014
- Owners notified3 March 2014
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 27 January 2014.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Manufacturer contact
Owners may contact Nu Wa Industries at 1-620-431-2088 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.
Official source
- Recalling manufacturer
- Nu Wa Industries, Inc.
- Recall initiated by
- ODI
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional 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 www.safercar.gov.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.