{"@context":{"@vocab":"https://schema.org/"},"@type":"ItemList","@id":"https://api.morvs.ai/api/v1/nhtsa/complaints/check?make=BLUE%20OX","name":"BLUE OX","_source":{"data_provider":"AI Analytics","brand_name":"MORVS","brand_url":"https://morvs.ai/","data_provider_url":"https://api.morvs.ai","license":"https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/","primary_source":"https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/","generated_at":"2026-10-02T19:37:17.193Z"},"summary":{"total_complaints":10,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fires":1},"top_components":[{"component_desc":"TRAILER HITCHES","n":4},{"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT","n":3},{"component_desc":"Other/I am not sure","n":1},{"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER","n":1},{"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL","n":1}],"recent_complaints":[{"cmplid":"2105003","date_received":"2025-06-28","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"TRAILER HITCHES","description":"The tow bar was installed between my jeep and my motorhome.  On the Alaska highway, the welds on one are failed and the jeep rear ended my motorhome.  Huge tow bill, substantial damage to motorhome, $1000 damage to car.","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/2105003"},{"cmplid":"2056368","date_received":"2025-01-16","make":"BLUE OX","model":"AVAIL TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"TRAILER HITCHES","description":"While driving on [XXX]  in Alabama, the pin attaching tow bar to receiver hitch broke appartently due to \"ovaling out\" of the steel hole on one side of the tow bar. The Jeep Grand Cherokee I was towing came loose as a result and was only secured by the safety chains.  Both the Jeep and the RV were damaged and had to be repaired.  Fortunately no one was injured but the situation could have easily turned deadly for those following me on the interstate.   I reported the incident to Blue Ox and they responded that it was due to the wrong size pin, wrong size hitch for the receiver, or \"excessive braking\".  The pin was the one provided by Blue Ox with the tow bar and the hitch is correctly sized according to the RV company that installed it.  Therefore, they are blaming the incident on \"excessive braking\" which is ludicrous considering that I drive my 38 foot diesel pusher in the slow lane and never follow too closely.  The steel should never be able to deform as this bar has clearly done.     INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/2056368"},{"cmplid":"1937329","date_received":"2023-10-21","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT","description":"Recent failures of Blue OX tow bars have cropped up on Recreational Vehicle blog sites. These incidents are very similar in that the tow bars or baseplates suffer weld failures. In the NHTSA database Blue OX has 14 complaints. None of the other major manufacturers of tow bars has a single compliant (Roadmaster, Demco, Curt,...).  This is a huge statistical deviation and suggest that NHTSA should initiate an investigation of the manufacturer.  Failure of a baseplate or tow bar will result in loss of control of the unoccupied towed vehicle.  Even more concerning is several failures included the loss of the safety cable connections.  This results in a tow vehicle completely uncoupled and veering across the highway.","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/1937329"},{"cmplid":"1786766","date_received":"2022-01-05","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"TRAILER HITCHES","description":"I experienced a failure of a Blue Ox Ascent ™ motorhome tow bar and subsequent damage to the towed vehicle (2016 Jeep Patriot).  The Jeep, at 3300 lbs, is well within the capacity of the tow bar (7500 lbs). The failed towbar and failed safety cables were shipped back to Blue Ox. Blu Ox has replaced my tow setup and made me whole, so this isn’t a complaint against Blue Ox.  But when the BACKUP SYSTEMS are challenged and fail, it warrants introspection and consideration of a recall. ACCIDENT DETAILS We connected our Jeep to our motorhome on September 20th AM near Acadia National Park heading for central Massachusetts.  I noticed that the spring ring on a retaining pin (non-load-bearing) didn’t snap into place with its usual force and noted to look into replacement pins.  This was the 1st such observation, and my wife & I had just completed a 3½ month, 10,000-mile trip around the country during which we connected our Jeep to the motorhome dozens of times. Exiting the interstate, we felt some jerks in the motorhome on the off-ramp onto a two-lane state highway, then felt a 2nd jerk and pulled into the shoulder immediately.  The Jeep was no longer connected, but had crossed the two lanes of the HWY and come to rest against the guardrail separating the EB and WB lanes.  One of the two towbar arms had fractured at a weld and all the safety cables had parted. The other towbar arm remained attached to the coach. It’s apparent that the suspect retaining pin worked its way out,","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/1786766"},{"cmplid":"1786767","date_received":"2022-01-05","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"Other/I am not sure","description":"I experienced a failure of a Blue Ox Ascent ™ motorhome tow bar and subsequent damage to the towed vehicle (2016 Jeep Patriot).  The Jeep, at 3300 lbs, is well within the capacity of the tow bar (7500 lbs). The failed towbar and failed safety cables were shipped back to Blue Ox. Blu Ox has replaced my tow setup and made me whole, so this isn’t a complaint against Blue Ox.  But when the BACKUP SYSTEMS are challenged and fail, it warrants introspection and consideration of a recall. ACCIDENT DETAILS We connected our Jeep to our motorhome on September 20th AM near Acadia National Park heading for central Massachusetts.  I noticed that the spring ring on a retaining pin (non-load-bearing) didn’t snap into place with its usual force and noted to look into replacement pins.  This was the 1st such observation, and my wife & I had just completed a 3½ month, 10,000-mile trip around the country during which we connected our Jeep to the motorhome dozens of times. Exiting the interstate, we felt some jerks in the motorhome on the off-ramp onto a two-lane state highway, then felt a 2nd jerk and pulled into the shoulder immediately.  The Jeep was no longer connected, but had crossed the two lanes of the HWY and come to rest against the guardrail separating the EB and WB lanes.  One of the two towbar arms had fractured at a weld and all the safety cables had parted. The other towbar arm remained attached to the coach. It’s apparent that the suspect retaining pin worked its way out,","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/1786767"},{"cmplid":"1749969","date_received":"2021-06-01","make":"BLUE OX","model":"AVAIL TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER","description":"The issued occurred on May 26, 2021 around noon, 20 miles West of Clayton, NM on Highway 87 traveling approximately 65 miles an hour, road conditions were fine, weather was dry, but windy.   The tow vehicle separated due to the welding on the AVAIL system failing which was attached to the receiver on the motor home. The safety cables held; the air force one safety brakes applied braking to the tow vehicle which alerted me to an issue. The safety brake released due to the pull of the motor home, the tow vehicle was then tethered to the motor home via safety cables only which allowed the tow vehicle to sway back and forth behind the motor home until I could safely move to the shoulder at which time the tow vehicle hit the corner of the motor home (at least twice as I tried to safely get over).  Damaging both the motor home and the tow vehicle.","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/1749969"},{"cmplid":"1749970","date_received":"2021-06-01","make":"BLUE OX","model":"AVAIL TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"TRAILER HITCHES","description":"The issued occurred on May 26, 2021 around noon, 20 miles West of Clayton, NM on Highway 87 traveling approximately 65 miles an hour, road conditions were fine, weather was dry, but windy.   The tow vehicle separated due to the welding on the AVAIL system failing which was attached to the receiver on the motor home. The safety cables held; the air force one safety brakes applied braking to the tow vehicle which alerted me to an issue. The safety brake released due to the pull of the motor home, the tow vehicle was then tethered to the motor home via safety cables only which allowed the tow vehicle to sway back and forth behind the motor home until I could safely move to the shoulder at which time the tow vehicle hit the corner of the motor home (at least twice as I tried to safely get over).  Damaging both the motor home and the tow vehicle.","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/1749970"},{"cmplid":"834726","date_received":"2011-01-04","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TC35160","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":1,"crash":0,"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT","description":"TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVED EQUIPPED WITH A BLUE OX BRAKING SYSTEM. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE DEFECTIVE SYSTEM WAS SENT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.    UPDATED 02/10/11  *BF  UPDATED 12/06/2011 *LN","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/834726"},{"cmplid":"620493","date_received":"2007-04-15","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL","description":"WHILE TOWING THE 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE BEHIND  THE 37 FOOT MOTOR HOME ON A FOUR LANE DIVIDED US HIGHWAY THE TOW BAR CONNECTING THE TWO BROKE,  CAUSING THE JEEP TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY, CROSS A WIDE SHOULDER AND STRIKE A TELEPHONE POLE, TOTALING THE JEEP. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS WERE STRUCK. THE TOW BAR WAS AN ALADDIN MODEL BX4325 MANUFACTURED BY AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. OF PENDER, NEBRASKA(BLUE OX). THE JEEP WAS 3,300 LBS., WELL WITHIN THE RATED 5,000 LB. RATING AND THE JEEP WAS TOWED LEVEL WITH THE HITCH RECEIVER OF THE MOTOR HOME. THE FAILURE WAS AT THE \"HITCH MOUNT\", A CAST ALUMINUM COMPONENT OF THE TOW BAR ITSELF. AUTOMATIC WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TOW BAR IF I RETURNED IT TO THEM. ALL PARTS IN MY POSSESSION NOW.  *AK","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/620493"},{"cmplid":"620495","date_received":"2007-04-15","make":"BLUE OX","model":"TOW BAR","model_year":null,"deaths":0,"injured":0,"fire":0,"crash":1,"component_desc":"EQUIPMENT","description":"WHILE TOWING THE 1999 JEEP CHEROKEE BEHIND  THE 37 FOOT MOTOR HOME ON A FOUR LANE DIVIDED US HIGHWAY THE TOW BAR CONNECTING THE TWO BROKE,  CAUSING THE JEEP TO LEAVE THE HIGHWAY, CROSS A WIDE SHOULDER AND STRIKE A TELEPHONE POLE, TOTALING THE JEEP. FORTUNATELY NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS WERE STRUCK. THE TOW BAR WAS AN ALADDIN MODEL BX4325 MANUFACTURED BY AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. OF PENDER, NEBRASKA(BLUE OX). THE JEEP WAS 3,300 LBS., WELL WITHIN THE RATED 5,000 LB. RATING AND THE JEEP WAS TOWED LEVEL WITH THE HITCH RECEIVER OF THE MOTOR HOME. THE FAILURE WAS AT THE \"HITCH MOUNT\", A CAST ALUMINUM COMPONENT OF THE TOW BAR ITSELF. AUTOMATIC WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TOW BAR IF I RETURNED IT TO THEM. ALL PARTS IN MY POSSESSION NOW.  *AK","canonical_url":"https://api.morvs.ai/vehicle-complaint/620495"}]}