RoadVitals

1997 Utility Trailer

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.
10
Latest Dec 22, 2005
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 Aug 15, 2002
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

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Utility Trailer, most frequently naming the brakes, other / unspecified and body & structure categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Brakes642.9%
  • Other / unspecified321.4%
  • Body & structure17.1%
  • Powertrain (other)17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Fuel system17.1%
  • Electrical17.1%

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
02V210001

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

Aug 15, 2002
206 units potentially affected
The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 10
Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 22, 2005

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE FRONT LEFT DUAL TIRES ON THE 1997 UTILITY BOX TRAILER CAME OFF THE WHEELS. THE WHEEL WENT THROUGH THE MEDIAN, STRUCK A GUARDRAIL FACE, JUMPED THE GUARDRAIL, JUMPED THE RIGHT AWAY FENCE AND CAME TO REST IN A FIELD. *NM

NHTSA ID
10146478
Incident
Feb 10, 2005
Filed Nov 4, 1999

EXTERNAL HEATING AND A/C UNIT DAMAGED AT TIME OF INSTALLATION. MJS

NHTSA ID
549392
BrakesElectricalFuel system+3 more
Filed Feb 23, 1999

LP LEAK AT REGULATOR, REPLACED REGULATOR. MJS

NHTSA ID
544030
Incident
Mar 24, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 1998

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
542896
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 1998

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
542895
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 1998

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID
542882
Incident
Jul 22, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 1998

BRAKES REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID
542881
Incident
May 22, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 26, 1998

BRAKE SHOES SEPARATED CAUSING TRAILER TO LOCK UP AND DAMAGE BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
542866
Incident
May 1, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-07-009

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

Utility re-issued the rear impact guard (bumber) requirements when requesting a replacement bumper and / or DOT decal.

SB-10-005

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Utility released a bulletin outlining reefer and dry van rub rail parts required and installation instructions.

SB-01-003

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

This Bulletin was originally released on March 30, 2009. Utility re-released on August 18, 2017 to reflect the addition of the UTM Plant in Mexico.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Utility Trailer by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013100—
2012100—
2003100—
2002000—
2001220—
2000420—
1999510—
1998122050.3
1997Viewing101032.8
1996710—
1995121039.8
1994910—
1993610—
1992610—
1991210—
1979000—

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.