Trailer hitch recall for 14/15's with Z82

ewbldavis · February 25, 2016

Mine is good, but service tech was familiar with recall. They just did a Chevy.

redwngr · February 25, 2016

So that's your answer? You prooftest the hitch as an assembly. It is a critical part whose failure could cause a serious accident. As for individual welds, each weld must receive at least visual inspection per AWS D1.1 code.

Wasn't trying to imply that at all, but visual inspection requires interpretation and clearly that can sometimes lead to improper interpretation.

We don't even know if the crack is due to a weld that is off spec or a component that is offspec. It could be that it did pass all visual inspections and the crack has developed later.

I spent a lot of time trouble shooting metal stamping and welded assembly issues in supplier plants. The most important thing I learned was that frequently (most of the time ?) the apparent cause of a production problem was not the true root cause.

glcbn · February 25, 2016

Here I thought I was getting it replaced and all they are going to do is check to see if it needs replaced.

chuckl1218 · February 25, 2016

Here I thought I was getting it replaced and all they are going to do is check to see if it needs replaced.

Check to see if it needs replacement? My dealer Service Manager read the recall to me over the phone. No need to inspect. If VIN matches, order part and replace. (He was surprised to see there is a core charge - which shows "0.00" on the invoice above). And then he said mine would be the first they fix when parts come in because they don't have the part in stock and can't order yet. They will get a batch of them in and schedule replacement. And then you get scheduled in right away, but it is to "check"?

The interesting part to me is how inconsistent these things are handled on a dealer by dealer basis.

glcbn · February 25, 2016

Check to see if it needs replacement? My dealer Service Manager read the recall to me over the phone. No need to inspect. If VIN matches, order part and replace. (He was surprised to see there is a core charge - which shows "0.00" on the invoice above). And then he said mine would be the first they fix when parts come in because they don't have the part in stock and can't order yet. They will get a batch of them in and schedule replacement. And then you get scheduled in right away, but it is to "check"?

The interesting part to me is how inconsistent these things are handled on a dealer by dealer basis.

That's for sure.

So after "inspecting" my hitch it was determined it in deed needs replaced. They will call when they receive the new hitch. Another trip to the dealer.

Juicybusa · February 26, 2016

Check to see if it needs replacement? My dealer Service Manager read the recall to me over the phone. No need to inspect. If VIN matches, order part and replace. (He was surprised to see there is a core charge - which shows "0.00" on the invoice above). And then he said mine would be the first they fix when parts come in because they don't have the part in stock and can't order yet. They will get a batch of them in and schedule replacement. And then you get scheduled in right away, but it is to "check"?

The interesting part to me is how inconsistent these things are handled on a dealer by dealer basis.

There is a core charge because they are returning the hitches to the original vendor to be "remanufactured" and reinstalled on recalled trucks.

SILVER SLED · February 26, 2016

There should be no inspection. Your vin# will determine if you get the hitch. We just got a few hitches in today, unlike what we were told by GM.

glcbn · February 26, 2016

There should be no inspection. Your vin# will determine if you get the hitch. We just got a few hitches in today, unlike what we were told by GM.

Well there was in my case.

SILVER SLED · February 26, 2016

Well there was in my case.

Than who ever made that your case is misinformed.

glcbn · February 26, 2016

Than who ever made that your case is misinformed.

I hear ya. At the mercy of the dealer I guess.

15slvrDbl · February 27, 2016

What is the z82 package? I guess I need to find out how to check for this since I tow a TT at least once a month from April to Oct.

chuckl1218 · February 27, 2016

What is the z82 package? I guess I need to find out how to check for this since I tow a TT at least once a month from April to Oct.

Z82 lists under my RPO codes (glove box silver label) as: Z82 - TRAILERING EQUIPMENT PKG

You can tell if you have it by looking at your RPO codes in the glove box.

To see if your VIN is included in the recall, go to my.chevrolet.com and input your VIN or you can call your dealer.

dave07 · February 27, 2016

Build date of 8/26/2015 and NO recall for my Z82 package.

Randal365 · February 27, 2016

Just had my hitch replaced yesterday. I had my Fort Wayne built 2015 GMC Z71 in the shop for other issues. When I called the dealer to see if my truck was done, so I could pick it up, the service manager said it would be another half hour because they were just finishing up on some recall work.

I asked what the recall was for. He said they were replacing the hitch.

As I understand, the hitch doesn't have to show any cracking of the platform welds, to warrant replacement. It's over 1000's of miles of use, that the cracking of welds can develope and have failure of the hitch.

I am a contractor and pull a 16 ft Cargo trailer just about daily, so one way or another I am happy the hitch was changed.

Work done so far since purchase;

replace the front bumper due to rust and then return due to fog lights not working, after bumper change

4 wheel drive reprogram recall

rear brake line bolt check recall

rear license plate light quit working

frame undercoating peeling

headlight bulb change and reflash of the computer

1st oil change at 6000 km and then return due to seeping/dripping oil filter

Just had my hitch replaced yesterday. I had my Fort Wayne built 2015 GMC Z71 in the shop for other issues. When I called the dealer to see if my truck was done, so I could pick it up, the service manager said it would be another half hour because they were just finishing up on some recall work.

I asked what the recall was for. He said they were replacing the hitch.

As I understand, the hitch doesn't have to show any cracking of the platform welds, to warrant replacement. It's over 1000's of miles of use, that the cracking of welds can develope and have failure of the hitch.

I am a contractor and pull a 16 ft Cargo trailer just about daily, so one way or another I am happy the hitch was changed.

Work done so far since purchase;

replace the front bumper due to rust and then return due to fog lights not working, after bumper change

4 wheel drive reprogram recall

rear brake line bolt check recall

rear license plate light quit working

frame undercoating peeling

headlight bulb change and reflash of the computer

1st oil change at 6000 km and then return due to seeping/dripping oil filter

Ad1566 · February 27, 2016

I work for the company that makes these hitches. First off, we inspect all 45 welds on the hitch. Every shift also preforms a destruct to make sure the welds are up to standard. They are mostly made in the us, here in michigan. Smaller portion comes from the Mexico plant. Reason for the recall? Gm wanted specs changed and wanted to complete with ford's f-150. So for the reinforcmenet components on the hitch are welded with .52 diameter wire. The rest is .45 wire. There you go. Right from the source.