Recall 20V317 covers 122 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer and Trail & Sport trailers with undersized safety chains. Free repair at a dealer.
Us Cargo is recalling 122 2020-2021 Cargo Trailer and Trail & Sport cargo trailers because the safety chains are not rated for the trailer's GVWR and can break after the trailer comes unhitched. Complete detachment raises the risk of property damage, injury, or a crash; Us Cargo dealers will replace the chains free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The safety chains on a 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer or Trail & Sport trailer are the backup link between the trailer and the tow vehicle. If the coupler separates from the hitch ball, the chains are supposed to hold the trailer close enough for the driver to slow down and get off the road. They have to be rated for the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating, which is the maximum loaded weight the trailer is built to carry.
On affected trailers, the plant installed chains rated at 7,600 lbs. The correct replacement chains are rated at 11,700 lbs. Because the installed chains are under-rated for the trailer's weight rating, they can break when the trailer comes unhitched. Once the chains break, the trailer is no longer held to the tow vehicle.
There is no warning sign before failure. The chains can look normal during routine use, so the issue is the rating stamped or specified for the chain, not a noise, light, or handling change an owner would notice while towing.
Who's affected?
Covers Cargo Trailer and Trail & Sport models across the 2020 and 2021 model years, with recreational vehicle/trailer equipment and trailer hitches listed as separate components.
| 2020 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
|---|---|
| 2020 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer | Trailer hitches |
| 2020 Haulin' Cargo Trailer | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2020 Haulin' Cargo Trailer | Trailer hitches |
| 2020 Us Cargo Trail & Sport | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2020 Us Cargo Trail & Sport | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 Haulin' Cargo Trailer | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2021 Haulin' Cargo Trailer | Trailer hitches |
| 2021 Us Cargo Trail & Sport | Recreational vehicle/trailer |
| 2021 Us Cargo Trail & Sport | Trailer hitches |
| Units affected | 122 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the trailer comes unhitched from the tow vehicle, the safety chains can break. That can let the trailer detach completely and create a risk of property damage, personal injury, or a crash. There is no warning sign before failure. Schedule the chain replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Us Cargo dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer or Trail & Sport is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Us Cargo dealer or service center to schedule the free safety-chain replacement that matches the trailer's GVWR.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 20V317 when you call.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the safety chains are replaced if the dealer tells you the chains do not match the trailer's GVWR.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer or service center, a Us Cargo technician replaces the trailer safety chains with chains rated for the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Parts and labor are free under the recall, and the repair is available now. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related safety chain repair before the recall notice. Bring documentation of that paid repair when you contact Forest River or the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 29, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 15, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 8, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| July 8, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 8, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V317?
Recall 20V317 covers 122 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer and Trail & Sport trailers with safety chains that are not rated for the trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. If the trailer comes unhitched, the chains can break, leading to complete detachment, property damage, personal injury, or a crash.
What should I do if my 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer or Trail & Sport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 20V317. If it is, contact a franchised Us Cargo dealer or authorized service center to schedule the safety chain replacement. Reference recall number 20V317 and Forest River recall number 24-1167 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy says a dealer or service center will replace the safety chains free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for trailers included in recall 20V317.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is complete trailer detachment after an unhitching event. The safety chains are meant to keep the trailer connected to the tow vehicle after the coupler separates. In this recall, the chains are insufficient for the trailer's GVWR and can break under that load.
What if I bought this trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the trailer, not the first owner, so a used 2020-2021 Us Cargo Cargo Trailer or Trail & Sport still qualifies if its VIN is included. Check your VIN, then call the dealer with recall number 20V317.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V317000 |
|---|---|
| Us Cargo customer service | 1-574-848-1335 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V317 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V317000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →