NHTSA Orders Recall Of Over 30,000 Trailers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ordered the recall of over 30,000 trailers because of a spring valve defect that could cause the trailer to roll away after decoupling from the tractor, increasing the risk of crash or injury.

The recall impacts trailers outfitted with Bendix SR-5 trailer spring brake valves manufactured between 2014-2016. More specifically, the recall notice reads, “Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 FS1CHA, FS1CHS, FS2CDHA, FS2CHA, FS2CHS, FS3CDHA, FS3CHA, FS3CHS, TS1CA, TS2CDHA, TS2CHA, VS1DC, VS1RA, VS2DX, VS2RA, VS2RAP, VS3DX, VS3RA, and VS4DX refrigerated, dry van, and flatbed trailers manufactured January 1, 2014, to March 4, 2016.”

According to the recall notice “under certain conditions (primarily off-highway or in trailer yards) there can be a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the trailer after the operator pulls the dash valve button. This slow to park condition could lead to trailer roll away after decoupling from the tractor.”

The recall notice says that if a defect is present, it can be heard or seen: “If coupled to a tractor, a leak may be heard from the exhaust of the dash valve or from the tractor protection valve. If uncoupled, a leak may be heard at the supply (red) gladhand on the trailer.Additionally, if uncoupled & the internal leakage is present, there will be a loss of air pressure in the trailer reservoir, resulting in the eventual parking of the brakes.”

If you believe that your trailer may be part of the recall, you can call NHTSA at 888-327-4236 and reference recall number 16E-045. Or you can call Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591.

Read more about the recall in the document below.

[su_document url=”http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/UCM534189/RCRN-16V503-5976.pdf” width=”700″]