The problem
Navistar is recalling certain model year 2013 International ProStar commercial trucks, manufactured from May 14, 2012, through August 14, 2012, and equipped with tow hook feature code 01570. The tow hooks may not have been heat treated to specification resulting in reduced strength.
The risk
Improperly heat treated tow hooks may unexpectedly break during vehicle recovery, resulting in the towed vehicle separating from the towing vehicle while in traffic, increasing the risk of a crash without warning with accompanying vehicle damage, injuries or deaths.
The fix
Navistar will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect tow hooks, free of change. The safety recall ibegan on December 18, 2012. Owners may contact Navistar at 1-800-448-7825.
Contacts
Navistar's recall campaign number is 12527. 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.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized International dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 12V508000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.