2021–2023 Vermeer BC700XL Recall: Incorrect retention bolt may have been installed in the safety chain…

The defect

Vermeer Manufacturing Company (Vermeer) is recalling certain 2021-2023 BC700XL brush chipper trailers. The incorrect retention bolt may have been installed in the safety chain assembly.

The risk

A safety chain with an incorrect retention bolt can detach from the brush chipper, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix — what to do

Dealers will install a new retention bolt, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed on May 25, 2023. Owners may contact Vermeer customer service at 1-800-829-0051- ext. 7060.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov. Please be reminded of the following requirements:You are required to submit a draft owner notification letter to this office no less than five days prior to mailing it to the customers.Also, copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner).Please be reminded that under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(3), it is illegal for a manufacturer, to sell, offer for sale, import, or introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that contains a safety defect once the manufacturer has notified NHTSA about that safety defect.This prohibition does not apply once the motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment has been remedied according to the manufacturer's instructions.As stated in 49 U.S.C. § 30118(f), submission of 8 consecutive quarterly reports is required. As described in 573.7, submission of the first of eight consecutive quarterly status reports is required within one month after the close of the calendar quarter in which notification to purchasers occurs.Therefore, the first quarterly report will be due on, or before, 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter.