Item Affected: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
Date Announced: 06/26/2012
Description of Recall: UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY (UTILITY) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 UTILITY VS2DX DRY VANS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 16, 2012, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2012. THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECK VALVE WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, CAUSING A DELAY IN BRAKE APPLICATION. THUS, THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121,“AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS.”
Conequence: A DELAY IN APPLICATION OF THE TRAILER BRAKES INCREASES THE STOPPING DISTANCE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Action Need To Fix It: UTILITY HAS NOTIFIED OWNERS AND RETROFITTED THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, FREE OF CHARGE; THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION NOTICE WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT 1-626-854-7215.
Notes: CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.