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A-Frame Failures
Following some reports of A-frame mounting failures and associated body/chassis failures of the towed vehicle, the Vehicle Safety Branch of Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have taken an interest and would like anyone who has suffered such failures to provide further information.
They say: "DVSA investigates, in conjunction with the relevant producer, incidences whereby failure of a vehicle or its component systems are alleged to be attributable to design or construction deficiencies. In addition DVSA is responsible for the supervision and monitoring of the UK Recall Scheme as it applies in the automotive sector.
This work is carried out under the terms of a Code of Practice, which is an agreement between the Department for Transport and the Trade Associations representing vehicle and component producers, and is supported by the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.
A ‘safety defect’ is defined in the Code as "A safety related defect is a failure due to design and/or construction, which is likely to affect the safe operation of the product without prior warning to the user and may pose a significant risk to the driver, occupants and others. This defect will be common to a number of products that have been sold for use in the United Kingdom". In addition, before we can require a manufacturer/producer to instigate a safety recall, there has to be a significant risk of serious injury or death. "
DVSA have provided the following documents to assist the reporting of defects to them.
Code of Practice on Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls (257Kb PDF file)
Consumer Guide to Vehicle Safety Defects (1.74Mb PDF file)
Consumer Guide to Vehicle Safety Recalls (1,29Mb PDF file)