GM Recall for Trailer Hitch Cracking on 2014 Silverado 1500

[Mvaug45]

Does any one have information on a GM recall for trailer hitch cracking on GM 2014-15 1500's. I got a notice from Onstar but no real information

[gandttimes]

I would call your dealer. They should have a list of the affected serial #'s

George

[AWCHIEF]

I googled it and got several informative hits.

[HowieE]

it is a good idea for all GM owners to check the receiver regularly. They do crack.
The pictures are from my 97 2500 after our trip to Alaska. I replaced it with a quality receiver

[Mvaug45]

Found a GM forum and got some info. Basically they've had some failures of welds and are going to replace the hitch platform. But from what I see the dealers don't have the parts yet. Typical.

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topi...ith-z82/page-3

[TinShack]

Go to the GM website and setup an owner assistance account for your vehicle using your VIN. http://www.gm.com/owner-assistance.html

You can find out about all recalls affecting your vehicle there as well as access owners manuals and other vehicle info.

[PaulnGina]

Good advice: if your tow vehicle came from the factory with a receiver hitch, pitch it in the trash and get the heaviest one you can find from Curt, Reese, etc.




PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

Blessed and highly favored

[switz]

We cut off the stock 1,200 pound rated receiver on our Ram 2500HD and installed a Curt 15049 rated 2,550 pounds of tongue weight and a 17,000 pound trailer. So far that covers the Airstream product world.

Here is a link to the Class 5 hitche Curt offers for the 2014 1500 Silverado:

http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/f...class5xtraduty

It is rated for 2,400 pounds of tongue weight and a 17,000 pound trailer using weight distribution.

This is a bolt on unit.

[ShinyPete]

GM has had weak round tube hitches for a long time now. I had a bad one on a 2003 2500HD. Come on GM can't you guys buy a better hitch for vehicles designed to tow?

😜



Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[PaulnGina]

Originally Posted by switz

We cut off the stock 1,200 pound rated receiver on our Ram 2500HD and installed a Curt 15049 rated 2,550 pounds of tongue weight and a 17,000 pound trailer. So far that covers the Airstream product world.

Here is a link to the Class 5 hitche Curt offers for the 2014 1500 Silverado:

http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/f...class5xtraduty

It is rated for 2,400 pounds of tongue weight and a 17,000 pound trailer using weight distribution.

This is a bolt on unit.

I had that Curt Class V receiver on my 1995 F250. What a beast that was!

When I had a custom rear bumper made I had the receiver built into it. Another beast! Bumper weighs 350 lbs, and the fabricator did a great job of incorporating the receiver.

I like it a LOT!




PaulnGina
1987 Avion 34W
1995 Ford F250 7.3L PowerStroke

Blessed and highly favored

[dannydimitt]

What a thrill when the entire receiver hitch falls off the truck while towing a 5 to 10 thousand pound trailer " of any kind " down the highway at 65 to 70 miles an hour ! 99% of the time the safety chains are connected to the trucks receiver hitch as well as the break away cable that activates the trailer brakes .
And pitty the poor family that gets rammed head on by a completely out of control heavy trailer killing all on board !
The lawyers will be jumping for joy !:-(

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by dannydimitt

What a thrill when the entire receiver hitch falls off the truck while towing a 5 to 10 thousand pound trailer " of any kind " down the highway at 65 to 70 miles an hour ! 99% of the time the safety chains are connected to the trucks receiver hitch as well as the break away cable that activates the trailer brakes .
And pitty the poor family that gets rammed head on by a completely out of control heavy trailer killing all on board !
The lawyers will be jumping for joy !:-(

Has any of this story ever actually happened? If so a source would be nice to read.

[xrvr]

Overly dramatic!

[kleimanr]

If GM offers you a new hitch ask for the cash instead. Go get a real hitch from one of the many aftermarket folks. My 2004 2500HD hitch failed as did my 2007 2500HD. Cracks at the welds. GM round bar hitch is simply junk.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Has any of this story ever actually happened? If so a source would be nice to read.

Very possibly, most likely, for sure.

Originally Posted by avionstream

Overly dramatic!

I dealt with it for quite awhile at the Chevy Store....

I would have thought....but I guess not.

First 'up-grade' I did when we got the '06 Burb.....

Old OEM...



Reese V TowBeast...


Best advise so far....
........"If GM offers you a new hitch ask for the cash instead. Go get a real hitch from one of the many aftermarket folks. My 2004 2500HD hitch failed as did my 2007 2500HD. Cracks at the welds. GM round bar hitch is simply junk".....

You won't get any cash....maybe a hitch you can take home...... but thats about all.
I did advise a few of my customers to go buy a Reese that we installed, customer just paid the difference between warrantee time and menu price. GM just wants a warrantee return so they have a valid claim to charge the labor on.



Bob

[timmaah]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Has any of this story ever actually happened? If so a source would be nice to read.

Not sure about the high speed version, but here is a low speed of the scenario.

https://www.instagram.com/p/e48kt1OOKb/

https://www.instagram.com/p/e479Z4uOJa/

https://www.instagram.com/p/fgSBAKOON_/

And notice my reply on the first image.. Airstream forums spreads the good word.

wandering_tim Well crap.. That does majorly suck. (Note to all who tow: Connect breakaway cable to something other than the hitch assembly. Ours is connected to a license plate bolt)

asolojourner @wandering_tim yes!! Why didn't they tell us that when they showed us how to hook everything up?? It makes SO much sense!

wandering_tim @the_ls_calypso I had no idea either. One time I posted our setup on Airforums and got the advice via friendly folks that way. You'd think a professional would know as well. I'm taking this afternoon to make sure all is well with our hitch. That is crazy scary. Hope it all works out ok.

[xrvr]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Very possibly, most likely, for sure.



I dealt with it for quite awhile at the Chevy Store....

I would have thought....but I guess not.

First 'up-grade' I did when we got the '06 Burb.....

Old OEM...



Reese V TowBeast...


Best advise so far....
........"If GM offers you a new hitch ask for the cash instead. Go get a real hitch from one of the many aftermarket folks. My 2004 2500HD hitch failed as did my 2007 2500HD. Cracks at the welds. GM round bar hitch is simply junk".....

You won't get any cash....maybe a hitch you can take home...... but thats about all.
I did advise a few of my customers to go buy a Reese that we installed, customer just paid the difference between warrantee time and menu price. GM just wants a warrantee return so they have a valid claim to charge the labor on.



Bob

Thanks for the pictures. By overly dramatic I meant the description of a possible scenario, not the fact that the hitch could fail. This looks like the same hitch I had on a Chevy years ago, it was recalled then I think.

[xrvr]

A long time ago someone told me to spray paint my hitch as it was easier to spot a failure because the paint would crack. Anyone else heard of this?

[switz]

At the time I purchased the 2012 Ram 2500HD Cummins, there was some chatter about failing welds where the hitch tube was welded to either side of the frame. Thus, I made the decision to acquire the Curt 15049 receiver.

I drilled a hole in the sheet metal below the tail gate and mounted an eye bolt to which I fasten the clip from the emergency battery power switch to the disc brake pump in case the truck and trailer get separated when under way.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by timmaah

Not sure about the high speed version, but here is a low speed of the scenario.

https://www.instagram.com/p/e48kt1OOKb/

https://www.instagram.com/p/e479Z4uOJa/

https://www.instagram.com/p/fgSBAKOON_/

And notice my reply on the first image.. Airstream forums spreads the good word.

wandering_tim Well crap.. That does majorly suck. (Note to all who tow: Connect breakaway cable to something other than the hitch assembly. Ours is connected to a license plate bolt)

asolojourner @wandering_tim yes!! Why didn't they tell us that when they showed us how to hook everything up?? It makes SO much sense!

wandering_tim @the_ls_calypso I had no idea either. One time I posted our setup on Airforums and got the advice via friendly folks that way. You'd think a professional would know as well. I'm taking this afternoon to make sure all is well with our hitch. That is crazy scary. Hope it all works out ok.

Thanks, that was a potential scary situation. I can imagine the outcome if that had been at high speed.