WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- A U.S. maker of recreational vehicle door handles recalled 2.86 million of them because they could leave people trapped inside, a federal agency said Wednesday.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration said in a posting on its website Fastec Industrial Corp., a part of Pittsburgh's WESCO Distribution Inc., handles were installed on RV's from January 2006 to April 2013.
The recalled handles have "deadbolts that could jam, making it impossible to exit the vehicle," the NHTSA said.
The agency said it may be possible to remove the key from the handle's lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt in locks with certain key codes.
"If the deadbolt jams, the interior side of the door lock may also jam," the NHTSA said. "A person inside the recreational vehicle at the time will then be locked in and be unable to exit the vehicle without using the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury."
The agency said Fastec will notify the original door and vehicle makers, and consumers of record, to instruct them on how to determine whether they have a defective lock.
Consumers of record will be sent replacement cylinders with instructions, free of charge. The vehicle manufacturers will notify their consumers. The recall is expected to begin Sept. 10.
Owners also may contact Fastec at 1-800-837-2505 or the NHTSA's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
