Utility VS2RA recalls by model year

Reported: 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003) · Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX EC-30T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS (ECU). IF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP CIRCUIT EXPERIENCES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THE SHORT IS NOT REPAIRED, THE HIGH SIDE POWER SWITCH INSIDE THE ECU THAT CONTROLS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE TRAILER-MOUNTED ABS WARNING LAMP MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME THERMALLY STRESSED AND EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: IF THE POWER SWITCH SHORTS, IT CAN RESULT IN AN OVER-CURRENT CONDITION IN THE ECU AND LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLE FIRE.

Remedy: BENDIX WILL PROVIDE A REMEDY KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS AND ALSO PROVIDE A LABOR ALLOWANCE FOR THE REPAIR. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BENDIX AT 1-800-478-1793 OR UTILITY AT 626-965-1541.

Reported: 2001-06-26 (June 26, 2001) · Model years: 2001, 2002

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN HALDEX BRAKE SYSTEM TWO AND FOUR PORT RELAY VALVES. THE VALVE MAY STICK OPEN WHEN A HIGH-PRESSURE APPLICATION IS RELEASED.

Consequence: WHEN THE VALVE STICKS OPEN, IT CAN RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF AIR FROM EITHER THE SERVICE OR THE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM. THE DRIVER MAY LOSE BRAKING ABILITY UNDER A SERVICE APPLICATION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE VALVES. HALDEX IS CONDUCTNG THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HALDEX AT 1-816-891-2470 OR UTILITY TRAILER AT 1-626-965-7215.

Reported: 2002-12-03 (December 3, 2002) · Model years: 2002

ON CERTAIN DUAL AXLE, REFRIGERATED TRAILERS BUILT WITH AN OPTIONAL PINTLE HOOK ASSEMBLY (PREMIER TYPE) FOR USE IN "SUPER DOUBLES" OPERATIONS, SOME WELDS MAY HAVE BEEN MISSED THAT ATTACH THE REINFORCEMENT CHANNEL TO THE PINTLE HOOK MOUNTING PLATE AT THE REAR SUBFRAME.

Consequence: FULL OR PARTIAL SEPARATION OF THE PINTLE HOOK ASSEMBLY FROM ITS MOUNTING COULD OCCUR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINTLE HOOK MOUNTING ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2002 OR JANUARY 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT UTILITY AT 1-800-423-6591.

Reported: 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004) · Model years: 2003, 2004

ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH WEBB WHEEL PLATINUM SERIES BRAKE DRUMS, THESE BRAKE DRUMS COULD CRACK ON THE BRAKING SURFACE.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCTION OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: WEBB WHEEL WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT WEBB WHEEL AT 1-800-633-3256 OR UTILITY AT 626-854-7217.

Reported: 2011-02-18 (February 18, 2011) · Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009

UTILITY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 VS2RA AND MODEL YEAR 2008 VS2DX REFRIGERATED AND DRY VANS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES. INSUFFICIENT TORQUE MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED ON THE SPINDLE NUT ON THE ARVINMERITOR TL SERIES TRAILER AXLES INSTALLED IN THESE VAN TRAILERS WHERE THE STAKE WASHER FOR THE NUT IS STAKED IN A SINGLE LOCATION AS OPPOSED TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.

Consequence: LOW AND/OR NO TORQUE ON THE NUT CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE END-PLAY IN THE WHEEL-END SYSTEM AND COULD PROGRESS TO A WHEEL SEPARATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: ARVINMERITOR IS WORKING WITH THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO IDENTIFY AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT AXLES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE ARVINMERITOR DEFECT REPORT 10E-058. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ARVIN MERITOR AT 1-248-273-4641.

Reported: 2010-11-05 (November 5, 2010) · Model years: 2009

UTILITY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VS2RA AND VS2DX TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN MERITOR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. THE SUSPECT SYSTEMS MAY HAVE MISSING WELDS AT THE INTERFACE OF THE LOWER SEAT BRACKET AND AXLE BEAM.

Consequence: MISSING WELDS COULD ALLOW THE AXLE TO ROLL OUT OF POSITION AND POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE HANDLING OF THE TRAILER SUCH THAT A DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: UTILITY TRAILER IS WORKING WITH ARVINMERITOR TO IDENTIFY OWNERS WITH THE AFFECT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ARVINMERITOR AT 1-248-435-0896.

Reported: 2011-03-24 (March 24, 2011) · Model years: 2011

UTILITY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VS2RA HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2010 THROUGH MARCH 2011, EQUIPPED WITH GUNITE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE "KNITTING" OF THE IRON AT THE TIME OF CASTING, INADEQUATE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SLACK ADJUSTER HOUSING CAN OCCUR, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HOUSING TO BREAK AT THE HANDLE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING LOADS.

Consequence: SLACK ADJUSTERS WITH THIS FLOW NOTCH COULD CRACK UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: UTILITY TRAILER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT SLACK ADJUSTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GUNITE AT 1-800-677-3786.

Reported: 2014-07-30 (July 30, 2014) · Model years: 2013, 2014

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 VS1RA, and 2013-2014 VS1DC, VS2DX, VS2RA, VS3DX, and VS3RA trailers manufactured April 2011, to May 2013. The pintle hook tube sub assembly that is welded to the pintle hook safety chain loop may break and fall off the vehicle.

Consequence: If the loop were to break off, the air lines and electrical lines would detach, applying the towed trailer's brakes, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy: Utility will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the pintle hook safety chain loop if it is cracked, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in September 2014. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591. Utility's number for this recall is SB 07-011/370258.

Reported: 2015-02-04 (February 4, 2015) · Model years: 2014, 2015

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 FS2CHA, VS2DX, VS1DC, VS2RA, and VS1RA trailers manufactured April 14, 2014, to November 4, 2015, equipped with certain Haldex Life Seal Type 30/30 Long Stroke Air Brake Actuators manufactured January 9, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected actuators may have an incomplete attachment of the internal rubber diaphragm to the actuation mechanism of the parking brake section of the Life Seal actuator.

Consequence: If the diaphragm is not completely attached, there may be internal leakage from the service section past the diaphragm, potentially trapping air pressure in the parking brake section. This air pressure in turn, if not vented, may prevent full release of the actuator unit, and may induce brake drag and may result in overheated wheelend service brakes, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Utility will notify owners and dealers will replace the actuators, free of charge. The recall began on April 9, 2015. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591. Utility's number for this recall is 14E075.

Reported: 2014-04-24 (April 24, 2014) · Model years: 2015

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2015 VS1RA, VS2RA, and VS3RA refrigerated vans manufactured January 6, 2014, through March 14, 2014. The affected trailers may have over-tightened axle nuts which may result in axle bearing failure.

Consequence: Bearing failure may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Utility has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bearings, correct the axle nut tightening and verify the proper amount of wheel-end play, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591.

Reported: 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015) · Model years: 2015

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility Trailer) is recalling certain model year 2015 Refrigerated Van trailers, model VS2RA, manufactured on December 16, 2013, and equipped with certain Meritor EX225L2, EX225L+, or Bendix ADB22X axles. The affected axle assemblies have caliper bolts that may not have been properly tightened, allowing the caliper mounting bolts to back out and the caliper to detach from the axle flange.

Consequence: If the caliper detaches from the axle flange, braking performance would be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Utility Trailer has notified the owners, and dealers will inspect the caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 4, 2015. Owners may contact Utility Trailer customer service at 1-818-965-1541, or Meritor customer service at 1-866-668-7221. Utility Trailer's number for this recall is 15E083.

Reported: 2017-08-01 (August 1, 2017) · Model years: 2017

Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility Trailer) is recalling certain 2017 VS2RA trailers. The weld that secures the mud flap bracket to the suspension beam may allow the mud flap bracket to detach.

Consequence: If the mud flap detaches during trailer use, it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Utility Trailer has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the weld for cracks, re-welding the bracket as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2017. Owners may contact Utility Trailer customer service at 1-818-965-1541.