1996 Utility Trailer

Routine

Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails

Component	Reports	Fires
Tires	2	0
Unknown or Other	1	1
Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly	1	0
Tires › Tread/Belt	1	0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components	1	0
Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal	1	0

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports

Service Brakes, Air › Supply › Check Valve02V210001

Filed Aug 15, 2002206 vehiclesUtility Trailer Mfg. Co.

Defect. ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH SPRING BRAKE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLIES, THERE IS A RECESSED AREA ON TOP OF THE VALVE IN WHICH A BRASS GUIDE PIN FITS DOWN INSIDE THE BODY OF THE VALVE AND IS HELD IN PLACE BY A STEEL SNAP RING. THE RECESSED AREA ALLOWS ACCUMULATION OF WATER, DIRT, AND/OR CHEMICALS TO BUILD UP BEHIND THE SNAP RING TO THE POINT WHERE IT WILL NO LONGER CONTAIN THE GUIDE PIN RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF THE AIR VALVE.

Risk. FAILURE OF THE VALVE IN AN EMPTY OR LIGHTLY LOADED TRAILER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION COULD RESULT IN A HARD APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES, POSSIBLY LOCKING UP THE TRAILER WHEELS AND RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SEALCO WILL PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS CUSTOMERS FREE OF CHARGE. 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 SEALCO AT 602-253-1007 OR UTILITY AT 626-965-1541.

What owners reported

Newest filings

Unknown or OtherFire

Filed Sep 30, 2008NM

1996 UTILITY TRAILER. THE TRAILER'S RIGHT REAR AXLE CAUGHT FIRE BECAUSE OF A HOT BRAKE. DRIVER STOPPED AT SERVICE PLAZA TO PUT OUT FIRE. *NJ OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT 10-0578-90. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt

Filed Sep 30, 2002TX

CONSUMER STATES THAT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER, AND PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

Tires

Filed May 10, 2001MN

WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR OUTSIDE TIRE BLEW OUT, IT RIPPED A 4 INCH STRIP OFF THE MUD FLAP, KNOCKED OUT THE RIGHT REAR TAILIGHT AND PIGTAIL WIRING (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

Tires

Filed Mar 19, 2001IL

TIRE BLEWOUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE MUD FLAP AND ALSO CAUSING DAMAGE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE (OHIO TRAFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components

Filed Nov 1, 1998KS

BRAKES FAILED.

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal

Filed Oct 26, 1998KS

REAR AXLE WHEEL SEAL FAILED.

Trailer Hitches › Fifth Wheel Assembly

Filed Aug 20, 1997OH

TRAILER TONGUE SNAPPED OFF TRAILER, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTRO/ACCIDENT.

7 of 7 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Fires	Assessment
2013	1	0	0	Routine
2012	1	0	0	Routine
2003	1	0	0	Routine
2001	2	2	1	Routine
2000	4	2	0	Routine
1999	5	1	0	Routine
1998	12	2	1	Routine
1997	10	1	0	Routine
1996 — this page	7	1	1	Routine
1995	12	1	1	Routine
1994	9	1	0	Routine
1993	6	1	0	Routine
1992	6	1	1	Routine
1991	2	1	0	Routine

Compare every Trailer year →

Other Utility models

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Utility 13 VS2RA 6

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 15, 2002. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.