RoadVitals

2000 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.
4
Latest Oct 28, 2019
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Utility Trailer, most frequently naming the tires & wheels and other / unspecified 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 & wheels480.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%

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

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
02V139003

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

May 16, 2002
2,620 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-5 TRAILER SPRING BRAKE VALVE ASSEMBLIES, THE MOLDED RUBBER FACE OF THE INLET/EXHAUST VALVE (I/E VALVE) COMPONENT OF THE AFFECTED VALVES CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VALVE'S METAL INSERT. AIR CAN BE TRAPPED BY A SEPARATED I/E VALVE CAUSING IT TO BALLOON AND BLOCK THE EXHAUST PASSAGE OF THE TRAILER SPRING BRAKE CIRCUIT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES BEING UNABLE TO APPLY THE TRAILER PARKING/EMERGENCY SPRING BRAKES DURING PARKING IN THE EVENT OF A TRAILER SUPPLY LINE FAILURE. UNINTENDED ROLLAWAY COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT OR ANY BYSTANDERS.
The remedy: BENDIX WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 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 BENDIX AT 440-329-9000 OR UTILITY TRAILER AT 1-800-423-6591.
UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 28, 2019

ITS JUST TOLD BY UHAUL THAT DRIVING OVER 1500 MILES ON TWO DIFFERENT TIRES WITH TWO DIFFERENT TREADS WAS SAFE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. WE DROVE THROUGH A STORM. SHE OFFERED ME A $65 REFUND. I PURCHASED A UHAUL IN NY AND DROVE OVER 1500 MILES WITH A DOLLY THAT HAD TWO DIFFERENT TIRE TREADS TO BE TOLD BY A MARKETING PRESIDENT THAT THE TIRES WERE OKAY TO DRIVE ON. ANY SANE PERSON KNOWS THAT DRIVING ON USING ALTERNATIVE TIRES FROM DIFFERENT TIRE CATEGORIES, WITH ALTERNATE SIZES OR DIFFERENT SPEED RATINGS CAN UNBALANCE THE VEHICLES HANDLING IN POOR WEATHER OR WHEN PUSHED TO THE LIMIT IN AN EMERGENCY. ONE OF MY COMPLAINTS WERE THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS MY CAR PULLING TO ONE SIDE NOT THE RUST. BECAUSE TIRES PLAY SUCH AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN EVERY VEHICLES COMFORT QUALITIES AND HANDLING CAPABILITIES, IT IS ALWAYS BEST TO DRIVE ON TIRES THAT ARE IDENTICAL IN EVERY DETAIL, INCLUDING TIRE BRAND, MODEL, SIZE, AND REMAINING TREAD DEPTH. ANYTHING ELSE INVOLVES SOME TYPE OF COMPROMISE. THATS JUST COMMON SENSE. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!

NHTSA ID
11271444
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 24, 2008
Crash reported

I HAVE A ROADMASTER TOW DOLLY AND ONE DAY, WHILE JUST SITTING THERE, I FOUND A THICK PIECE OF THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED, SHOWING WIRES UNDERNEATH. I FIGURED THE OTHER TIRE MAY DO THE SAME THING SINCE IT WAS IDENTICAL BUT MY INSPECTIONS REVEALED NOTHING'..THE TIRE LOOKED LIKE NEW. UNFORTUNATELY THE OTHER TIRE EVENTUALLY GAVE AWAY ON THE FREEWAY WHILE I HAD A CAR IN TOW. LUCKILY AT THE TIME I WASN'T SURROUNDED BY THE HEAVY TRAFFIC THAT SEEMED TO ACCOMPANY ME THAT DAY BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TOWED VEHICLE STARTED DRAGGING ME ACROSS ALL THE LANES, FROM ONE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO THE OTHER BUT THE SCARIEST PART WAS WHEN I WAS STARING DOWN AT TRAFFIC UNDER THE OVER PASS. AFTER PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED MY THICK FENDER HAD CRUSHED INWARD AT THE REAR'..TOTALLY SWALLOWING MY TAILLIGHT AND EFFECTIVELY ACTING AS A BRAKE. THE TIRE WAS STILL INFLATED BUT THE ENTIRE THICK TREAD WAS MISSING'..JUST THE WIRES WERE LEFT. THE TIRE MUST HAVE SEPARATED AND THE FENDER ACTED LIKE A PEELER BUT CRUSHED IN AT THE SAME TIME. IT ALL HAPPENED REAL FAST. THIS EVENT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY UGLY. A CANTON POLICE OFFICER ASKED IF I NEEDED ASSISTANCE BUT I SAID I'D JUST PULL OUT THE FENDER AND PUT MY SPARE ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10246614
Incident
Oct 20, 2008
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 23, 2008

2000 UTILITY TRAILER LOST TWO TIRES WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRE CROSSED THE MEDIAN AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-89-0621

NHTSA ID
10216127
Incident
Dec 8, 2007
Other / unspecifiedTires & wheels
Filed Aug 20, 2007

ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 11TH, I EXPERIENCE A BLOW OUT; THE BLOW OUT WAS ON THE CAR CARRIER. I CALLED CS AT 6: 25 CST AND TRANSFERRED TO THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE-I WAS ON HOLD FOR OVER 15 MINUTES. I CALLED BACK TO SEE IF CS WOULD HAVE ANY BETTER LUCK WITH GETTING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, JANA STAYED ON HOLD WITH ME FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, SHE WAS THE MOST EMPHATIC AND PROFESSIONAL REP I SPOKE WITH THROUGHOUT THIS ORDEAL. SHE INDICATED THAT SHE COULDN'T HOLD ANY LONGER AND WOULD HAVE TO PUT ME BACK IN THE QUEUE. I ASKED FOR A SUP - MELISSA WAS UNHELPFUL. THE REPS AND MGMENT AREN'T OPEN TO ANY OTHER OPTIONS OTHER THAN THE BOX. THEY'RE TRAINED IN. SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS TO TRANSFER THE CALL TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. SHE STATED THAT ROADSIDE WAS THERE BUT THE WAIT TIME WOULD PROBABLY BE LONG. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER OPTIONS AND SHE SAID NO. I ASKED IF SHE THOUGHT THAT WAS ?ACCEPTABLE?. AFTER WAITING 36 MINUTES, CRYSTAL IN ROADSIDE ANSWERED. CRYSTAL WAS VERY CONDESCENDING AND OBNOXIOUS, UNSYMPATHETIC, AND SLOW TO TAKE ACTION. SHE WANTED ME TO DRIVE THE DISABLED TRAILER TO A NEARBY HOTEL, SO THE TRAILER COULD BE FIXED THE NEXT MORNING. A TECHNICIAN FINALLY ARRIVED TO WHERE I WAS AT AROUND 8:40 CST, OVER TWO HOURS AFTER MY INITIAL CALL TO CS/ ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE TECHNICIAN WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE OLD ANTIQUATED EQUIPMENT ON THE TRAILER; THE WHEELS WERE RUSTY AND HARD TO REPAIR. WE ALSO NOTICED AT A LUG NUT WAS MISSING FROM ONE OF THE WHEELS. I WAS BACK ON THE ROAD AROUND 9:15 CST. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY FINAL DESTINATION I WAS UNABLE TO UNHOOK THE TRAILER FROM THE TRUCK. I HAD TO UNLOAD MY GOODS WITH THE TRAILER STILL ATTACHED. I WAS TOLD BY CS TO CONTACT ROADSIDE FOR THIS MATTER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO VENDOR WAS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND IF THE PROBLEM WAS USER ERROR. I WOULD BE BILLED FOR THE SERVICE CALL-INCREDIBLE!!!! 8/13/07 I WAS OFFERED 10% OF THE TRAILER RENTAL FOR MY CHALLENGES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200195
Incident
Aug 11, 2007

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—
2000Viewing420—
1999510—
1998122050.3
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.