RoadVitals

2012 Utility VS1DC

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 Jul 10, 2012
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 Jan 20, 2012
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 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2012 Utility VS1DC, most frequently naming the tires & wheels category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 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 & wheels1100.0%

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
12V020000

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

Jan 20, 2012
95 units potentially affected
The defect: UTILITY MANUFACTURING COMPANY (UTILITY) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 UTILITY VS1DC AND VS2DX DRY VANS MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2010 THROUGH AUGUST 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL LIFTGATE BATTERY BOX. THE MOUNTING PLATES USED FOR MOUNTING SINGLE OR DOUBLE BATTERY BOXES ON TRAILERS MAY BE THE INCORRECT SIZE AND SOME MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN MISORIENTED DURING INSTALLATION.
The risk: BATTERY BOXES MOUNTED WITH THE INCORRECT SIZE OR IMPROPERLY ORIENTED MOUNTING PLATES CAN BECOME DETACHED FROM THE TRAILER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: UTILITY WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOUNTING PLATES AND REPLACE THEM AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION HAS ALREADY BEGUN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY AT 1-626-854-7215.
UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 10, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 UTILITY VS1DC EQUIPPED WITH TRAIL AMERICA ST RADIAL TIRES, SIZE ST175/80/R13, DOT AAJURTT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE KEPT LOSING AIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE SEPARATION IN THE RUBBER OF THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/1612

NHTSA ID
10465146
Incident
Jul 7, 2012

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-07-013

EQUIPMENT

Utility Trailer Sales Department released a Sales Bulletin regarding dock bumpers and the potential dock lock compatibility. Any dock bumper equal to or greater than 1" proud of the buckplate light protector bar may reduce trailer dock lock compatibility. Trailers scheduled for production on or after 04/19/2019 will be built with 1/2" proud rubber dock bumpers.

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.

SB-07-011

EQUIPMENT

UTILITY TRAILER: INFORMATION IS PROVIDED REGARDING A POSSIBLE DEFECTED FLAWED MATERIAL IN PINTLE HOOK LOOP FOR SECONDARY (SAFETY) CHAIN FOR CERTAIN TRAILERS. MODELS 2012-2013 DRY VANS, 2011 AND 2013 REEFER VANS. *PE

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 VS1DC by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019000—
2015010—
2014020—
2013010—
2012Viewing110—
2011010—
2002010—
2001010—

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.