Recall 19V045 affects 80 2016-2017 Trail King Acs and Aacs trailers for cracked coupler plates. Repair is free at any franchised Trail King dealer.
Trail King is recalling 80 2016-2017 Acs and Aacs drop deck fifth wheel trailers because the fifth wheel coupler plate can crack on units with a 14-inch king pin setting and 1/4-inch plate. If the trailer detaches from the tractor, crash risk increases, and Trail King dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The fifth wheel coupler plate on 2016-2017 Trail King Acs and Aacs drop deck trailers is the heavy plate under the gooseneck that connects the trailer to the tractor's fifth wheel. The king pin setting locates that connection point, and the plate carries the trailer and load through the tractor while the rig turns and brakes.
On affected trailers with a 14-inch king pin setting and 1/4-inch plate, the plate was not thick enough for the full trailer and load weight. Stress concentrates at the plate corners under the gooseneck. Over use, that stress can crack the coupler plate, and a cracked plate can allow the trailer to detach from the tractor.
Owners or service crews should inspect underneath the gooseneck for small cracks in the corners of the coupler plate. Those visible cracks are the warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
Covers the Acs and Aacs trailer models across 2016 and 2017, both tied to the fifth wheel assembly.
| 2016 Trail King Acs | Fifth wheel assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Trail King Aacs | Fifth wheel assembly |
| 2017 Trail King Acs | Fifth wheel assembly |
| 2017 Trail King Aacs | Fifth wheel assembly |
| Units affected | 80 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the trailer detaches from the tractor, crash risk increases. Inspect the underside of the gooseneck for small cracks in the coupler plate corners, and stop using the trailer until a dealer checks any cracking. Repair is free at any franchised Trail King dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Trail King Acs or Aacs trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a Trail King dealer to schedule the free coupler-plate replacement that fixes the cracking fifth wheel plate.
- Bring the recall notice if Trail King mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V045 when you call.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the coupler-plate replacement is complete if the fifth wheel plate shows cracking or looseness.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Trail King technician replaces the fifth wheel coupler plate covered by recall 19V045. Parts and labor are free under the recall. The work addresses the coupler plate cracking condition that can let the trailer detach from the tractor. Trail King's general reimbursement plan is on file for this campaign. If you paid for the same coupler plate repair before the recall notice, bring repair paperwork and payment records to the service desk, or contact Trail King customer service for the claim path.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 18, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 11, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| February 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 1, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 18, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V045?
Recall 19V045 covers 80 2016-2017 Trail King Acs and Aacs drop deck fifth wheel trailers with a 14-inch king pin setting and 1/4-inch coupler plate. The plate can crack and let the trailer detach from the tractor, increasing crash risk. Trail King dealers replace the coupler plate for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Trail King Acs or Aacs is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 19V045. If it is, contact a franchised Trail King dealer to schedule the coupler-plate replacement. Reference recall number 19V045 or Trail King recall number TK201901 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Trail King's remedy for recall 19V045 is a free coupler-plate replacement at a dealer. Parts and labor are covered for included trailers, and Trail King customer service is available at 1-800-843-3324 for scheduling help.
What is the safety risk on this Trail King recall?
The safety risk is trailer separation. On the included Trail King Acs and Aacs trailers, the fifth wheel coupler plate can crack and allow the trailer to detach from the tractor, increasing crash risk under recall 19V045.
What if I bought my Trail King trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies to an included trailer. Check your VIN even if you never received the original owner notice, then contact a franchised Trail King dealer and reference recall 19V045 or Trail King recall number TK201901.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V045000 |
|---|---|
| Trail King customer service | 1-800-843-3324 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V045 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V045000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →