RoadVitals

2017 Great Dane Reefer

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Jun 2, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 28, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2017 Great Dane Reefer, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
16V476000

PARKING BRAKE

Jun 28, 2016
13,509 units potentially affected
The defect: Great Dane Trailers (Great Dane) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Dry Freight Van, Reefer, and Flatbed trailers manufactured January 1, 2014, to March 4, 2016, equipped with certain Bendix SR5 spring brake valves. These valves may have been improperly machined which may cause a delay of application of the spring brakes while parking.
The risk: If there is a delay of the spring brake application, the trailer may roll away after it has decoupled from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy: Great Dane will contact owners and provide a remedy kit, complete with instructions, to repair any affected SR-5 trailer relay valves, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2016. Owners may contact Great Dane Customer Service Department at 1-912-232-4471.
Great Dane TrailersView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Jun 2, 2026
1 injury reported

On September 16, 2025, I was operating a powered industrial forklift inside Trailer No. [XXX]— a 2017 Great Dane refrigerated semi-trailer, VIN [XXX] — during routine dock-loading operations at [XXX] of the T.G. Lee Dairy / DFA Dairy Brands Fluid facility, [XXX] . The trailer was detached from its tractor, stationary, dock-locked, and wheel-chocked in the standard configuration for loading. Without prior warning, visible deformation, or any indication of structural distress, the right front K-bracket supporting the trailer’s JOST International Corporation landing gear failed structurally. The right landing gear leg collapsed, the trailer tipped to the right, and the front right nose of the trailer impacted the ground. I was thrown against the interior wall of the trailer and sustained cervical, thoracic, and lumbar injuries resulting in days away from work and ongoing medical treatment. The landing gear system installed on this trailer has been identified as a JOST International Corporation product (Grand Haven, Michigan). Identification is confirmed by: (1) the repair invoice of J-KO Mobile Semi Trailer Services, Inc., dated September 19, 2025, reflecting fabrication and installation of a replacement K-brace and identifying the trailer make as Great Dane; (2) the fleet operator’s internal communications identifying JOST landing gear in connection with Trailer No. [XXX] and the incident; and (3) written acknowledgment by JOST International Corporation’s legal counsel dated May 21, 2026, that the trailer collapse resulted from a failure of the JOST landing gear. Prior to the failure, the subject trailer was inspected twice on the date of the incident Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports completed at 3:30 AM and 10:55 AM on September 16, 202 both of which reflected “No Defect” for the landing gear. The fleet operator’s fleet maintenance department reviewed the preceding 90 days of DVIRs and 180 days of preventive maintenance INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11741673
Incident
Sep 16, 2025

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Great Dane Reefer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020000—
2019000—
2018000—
2017Viewing110—
2016020—
2015030—
2014000—
2013000—
2012000—
2011010—
2007010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.