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.
Item Affected: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Date Announced: 01/20/2012
Description of Recall: UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY (UTILITY) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 UTILITY VS1DC AND VS2DX DRY VANS MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2010 THROUGH AUGUST 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL LIFTGATE BATTERY BOX. THE MOUNTING PLATES USED FOR MOUNTING SINGLE OR DOUBLE BATTERY BOXES ON TRAILERS MAY BE THE INCORRECT SIZE AND SOME MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN MISORIENTED DURING INSTALLATION.
Conequence: BATTERY BOXES MOUNTED WITH THE INCORRECT SIZE OR IMPROPERLY ORIENTED MOUNTING PLATES CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Action Need To Fix It: UTILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOUNTING PLATES AND REPLACE THEM AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT 1-626-854-7215.
Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO 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 .
Item Affected: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
Date Announced: 02/18/2011
Description of Recall: 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.
Conequence: 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.
Action Need To Fix It: 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.
Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO 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 .