RoadVitals

1998 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.
12
Latest Aug 22, 2006
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.
2
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Utility Trailer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, heating & air conditioning and brakes categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Tires & wheels433.3%
  • Heating & air conditioning216.7%
  • Brakes216.7%
  • Suspension18.3%
  • Interior & seats18.3%
  • Body & structure18.3%
  • Powertrain (other)18.3%

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

2 campaigns 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
98V120004

WHEELS:RIM

Jul 22, 1998
28 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: DUAL AXLE, SEMI-VAN AND FLATBED, TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH AFTERMARKET ALUMINUM DUAL WHEELS, 22.5X8.25, ONE-PIECE, TUBELESS, SUPPLIED BY ACCURIDE/AKW. CERTAIN DESIGN REVISIONS COMBINED WITH PROCESS CONDITIONS CAUSED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THESE WHEELS.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE FAILURE OF THESE WHEELS.
The remedy: ACCURIDE/AKW WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS.
UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 22, 2006
Fire reported

1998 UTILTY TRAILER'S RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT DAMAGING THE UNIT. *KB THE CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10166899
Incident
Jul 30, 2006
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 17, 2001

TWO KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRES ON 5TH WHEEL TRAVEL TRAILER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WITH ONLY 6,000 MILES ON TIRES. TREAD WAS COMING OFF TIRE BECAUSE STEEL BELT UNDERNEATH TREAD WAS NOT PROPERLY ATTACHED TO SIDEWALL. TIRE SIZE: ST225/75R15, DOT NUMBER: PUHHP1KR. BOTH TIMES TIRES CAME APART, CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND TIRES WERE NOT OVERLOADED. TIRES WERE ONLY CARRYING 1900 TO 2000 LBS, APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES, WHEN RATED TO CARRY 2540 AT 65 PSI.*AK KELLY SPRINGFIELD TIRES ARE LABELED AS TOWMASTER, GOODYEAR AND KELLY DEALERS HAVE DENIED CONSUMER REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

NHTSA ID
886115
Incident
Jun 15, 2000
Brakes
Filed Aug 1, 2000

THE 1998 HYUNDAI CONTAINER TRAILER AIR BRAKES LEAKED CAUSING LOCK UP RESULTING IN COLLISION WITH GUARDRAIL (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ID
553307
Incident
Jun 8, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2000
Crash reported

(STOUGHTON BOX/UTILITY TRAILER) TRAILER UNIT WAS TOO HIGH AND DENIED ACCESS ONTO ROADWAY, HOWEVER DURING TRAVEL UNIT MUST HAVE STRUCK BRIDGE/ROADWAY AT THE TOP OF THE UNIT CAUSING DAMAGE WHICH RESULTED IN BUCKLE/BOWING OF TRAILER AND COLLAPSING. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *MJS

NHTSA ID
550269
Incident
Nov 10, 1999
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 1999

POP OFF VALVE FOR WATER HEATER. (NASH 5TH WHEEL TRAILER) YH

NHTSA ID
609369
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Interior & seats
Filed Feb 1, 1999

TERRY TRAILER REAR DOOR POPPED, LATCHES ON BOTH SIDES FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID
608739
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Feb 1, 1999

(MAKE: COLE MODEL: GRANDVIEW TENT TRAILER)LP COVER BLEW OFF DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. MJS

NHTSA ID
606938
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 1999

WATER HEATER PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ID
606805
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—
1998Viewing122050.3
1997101032.8
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.