Thule, Inc. Recall (Jul 2007)
Thule, Inc. has issued a recall. CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACK. WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH POINT HAS TO POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
What you should do
- Do not use this product. Read the official announcement for what to do.
- THULE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391). NOTES: LAND ROVER PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS FOR USE ON THEIR LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES, PART NO. LRNAPBR4. L. L. BEAN ALSO SELLS SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER THE MODEL NAME OF HITCHING POST PRO (WD75, WD76, WD77, WD78, YL05, BBG9, BBH1, BBH2, BBH4), EXPRESSWAY (WD72, WD73, BBH5, BBH6), OR TRAILBLAZER (WD31, BBH7). REI HAS ALSO PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER MODEL NAMES: HITCHING POST PRO (934, 934XT, 935, 935XT, 936, 936XT, 937, 937XT, 951, 951XT), EXPRESSWAY (995, 995XT, 996, 996XT), AND TRAILBLAZER (998, 998XT).
What happened
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
Recall facts
- Manufacturer
- Thule, Inc.
- Vehicles affected
- 245,845
- NHTSA campaign
- 07E047000
- Severity
- Standard
From the official announcement
JUIY 13, 2007
SAFETY RECALL NOTICE
Re:
Hitching Post Pro (934,
934xt, 935, 935xt, 936, 936xt, 937, 937xt, 951, 951xt)
Expressway (995, 995xt, 996, 996xt)
Trailblazer (998, 998xt)
Dear Thule Hitch Rack Owner:
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle
Safety Act.
Thule has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in our Hitching Post
Pro (934,
934xt, 935, 935xt, 936, 936xt, 937, 937xt, 951, 951xt), Expressway (995, 995xt, 996, 996xt), and Trailblazer
(998,
998xt) hitch mounted bike racks sold during the 2003-2007 period. We are recalling these racks
because a pinch point exists between the bike arm bracket and the upright assembly which has the potential
of causing severe personal injury, including laceration or amputations to the user's fingertips or hand when
the bike arm bracket is moved to its down position. Because this could happen without warning, it is
important that you
stop using the rack immediately. At all times, keep your hands and fingers away from
the area between the bike arm bracket and the upright assembly.
Please review the following instructions on how to obtain a free repair kit. We are planning to have sufficient
repair kits and replacement units available to satisfy the requirements of this recall without delay or
inconvenience. We will provide a repair kit that will allow you to insert a bumper and a warning label to the
pinch point location. To
obta.in your kit, please call us at 1 -800-THULE 91 (800-848-5391), provide us your
name and address, and follow the instructions to install the additional parts. You can also visit
http://www.thuleracks.com for more information. If you have incurred any cost for remedies in advance of
th…
Common questions
What is the danger?
WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH POINT HAS TO POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
What should I do?
THULE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391). NOTES: LAND ROVER PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS FOR USE ON THEIR LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES, PART NO. LRNAPBR4. L. L. BEAN ALSO SELLS SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER THE MODEL NAME OF HITCHING POST PRO (WD75, WD76, WD77, WD78, YL05, BBG9, BBH1, BBH2, BBH4), EXPRESSWAY (WD72, WD73, BBH5, BBH6), OR TRAILBLAZER (WD31, BBH7). REI HAS ALSO PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER MODEL NAMES: HITCHING POST PRO (934, 934XT, 935, 935XT, 936, 936XT, 937, 937XT, 951, 951XT), EXPRESSWAY (995, 995XT, 996, 996XT), AND TRAILBLAZER (998, 998XT).
Where can I find more information?
Read the official NHTSA recall announcement, or browse all current vehicle recalls.