- Vehicles
- 2,098
- Built between
- Apr 2011 – May 2013
- Models
- 7
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- NHTSA investigation
- Owners notified
- 8 October 2014
- Repaired
- 30%
- Unrepaired
- 1,466
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between April 2011 and May 2013. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 2013-2014 Utility VS1DCBuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2012-2014 Utility VS1RABuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2013 Utility VS2DXBuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2013-2014 Utility VS2RABuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2013-2014 Utility VS3DXBuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2013-2014 Utility VS3RABuilt April 2011 to May 2013
- 2014 Utility Trailer VS2DXBuilt April 2011 to May 2013
Repair progress
1,466 of 2,098 vehicles in this recall had still not been repaired as of Q1 2016.
30% repaired — 632 of 2,098 reported
Manufacturers file these figures with NHTSA each quarter. Vehicles the manufacturer could not trace, or that have been scrapped or exported, are counted separately and are not included in the unrepaired figure.
What the defect is
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.
What could happen
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.
What gets fixed
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.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtApril 2011 to May 2013
- Recall reported to NHTSA30 July 2014
- Owners notified8 October 2014
- Latest repair reportQ1 2016 — 30% repaired
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 30 July 2014.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Manufacturer contact
Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591. Utility's number for this recall is SB 07-011/370258.
Official source
- Manufacturer's recall number
- SB-07-011/370258
- Recalling manufacturer
- Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company
- Recall initiated by
- ODI
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.