If your VIN is in recall 18V449, Jayco Travel Trailer will replace breakable White Hawk ladder-step screws for free at a franchised dealer.
Jayco Travel Trailer is recalling 202 2019 White Hawk recreational trailers under recall 18V449 because screws securing the ladder steps to the ladder rail can break. If a step does not stay secured when someone climbs the ladder, the user can fall and be injured; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The ladder on the 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk is the exterior climbing assembly used to reach the trailer roof. Each ladder step is fastened to the side rails by screws. Those screws carry the occupant's weight through the step and into the ladder rails, so the step has to stay tight and supported every time someone climbs.
On affected White Hawk trailers, the #8 screws used to secure the ladder steps were over-torqued during assembly. Over-torquing means the screws were tightened too hard, which weakens the hardware instead of making the joint safer. Jayco found broken screws holding the ladder steps to the side rails during an audit, and a broken screw leaves the step without the support it needs. The repair path replaces the smaller screws with #10 screws to secure the ladder steps.
There is no warning sign before failure. A ladder step with broken mounting screws can shift or break loose while someone is climbing, which can cause the occupant to fall.
Who's affected?
| 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 202 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a ladder step comes loose under weight, the person using it can fall and be injured. Check the steps before use and keep people off any loose step until the dealer repair is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Jayco Travel Trailer dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Jayco Travel Trailer dealer to ask about the free ladder-step screw replacement.
- Reference recall number 18V449 when you call, and use Jayco recall 9901404 if the service desk asks for the manufacturer number.
- Avoid using the exterior ladder until the repair is complete. The screw failure can let a ladder step break loose when stepped on.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, or ask the dealer to look up the recall by VIN.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Jayco Travel Trailer technician replaces the #8 screws that secure the ladder steps to the ladder rail with heavier #10 screws. The work addresses the step fasteners that can break and let an occupant fall. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. The owner notice process began on July 30, 2018, and Jayco lists recall number 9901404 for dealer reference.
Timeline
| July 5, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 30, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| August 30, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V449?
Recall 18V449 covers 202 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk recreational trailers with ladder-step screws that can break. If the steps stop staying secured under weight, the user can fall and be injured. Dealers replace the #8 screws with heavier #10 screws for free.
What should I do if my 2019 Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 18V449. If it is, contact a franchised Jayco Travel Trailer dealer to schedule the ladder screw replacement. Reference recall number 18V449 or manufacturer recall number 9901404 when you call.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 18V449, the dealer replaces the #8 ladder-step screws with heavier #10 screws free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a fall from the exterior ladder. The screws that hold the ladder steps to the ladder rail can break, so a step can stop staying properly secured when stepped on. The repair replaces those screws with heavier hardware.
What if I bought this Jayco Travel Trailer White Hawk used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN, then contact a franchised Jayco Travel Trailer dealer or customer service at 1-800-517-9137 if your trailer is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V449000 |
|---|---|
| Jayco Travel Trailer customer service | 1-800-517-9137 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V449 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V449000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →