NHTSA complaint: 1971 BELL BELL — EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 MITSUBISHI MONTERO SPORT. THE VEHICLE HAS A TOW HITCH WITH A BELL BV4 (NA) HITCH BLACK BICYCLE RACK ATTACHED. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BIKE RACK WAS WOBBLING. HE STOPPED TO CHECK THE RACK, BUT IT LOOKED NORMAL. HE CONTINUED TRAVELING ON ROUGH AND BUMPY ROADS. HE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE BIKE RACK FAILED. A TOTAL OF FOUR BICYCLES FELL FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE BIKES AT THE SPEED OF LESS THAN 65 MPH. THE OTHER VEHICLE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE WELDING FAILED ON THE BASE OF THE BIKE RACK.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation