RoadVitals

2004 Utility VS2RA

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.
2
Latest Apr 22, 2008
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 Feb 5, 2004
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Utility VS2RA, most frequently naming the exterior lighting and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 7 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

  • Exterior lighting150.0%
  • Tires & wheels150.0%

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
04V057000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

Feb 5, 2004
106 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH WEBB WHEEL PLATINUM SERIES BRAKE DRUMS, THESE BRAKE DRUMS COULD CRACK ON THE BRAKING SURFACE.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCTION OR COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: WEBB WHEEL WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS. 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 WEBB WHEEL AT 1-800-633-3256 OR UTILITY AT 626-854-7217.
UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 UTILITY VS2RA TRAILER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRAILER LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. HE CHECKED THE LIGHTS AND DISCOVERED THAT NONE OF THEM WERE WORKING WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. HE PURCHASED AND INSTALLED ANOTHER ADAPTER, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WIRING WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT CONNECT THE GROUND WIRE TO THE CHASSIS. THE VINYL-COVERED WIRING DID NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CONNECTIVITY. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF THE TRAILER MODEL. NO OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10225382
Incident
Apr 9, 2008
Tires & wheels
Filed May 30, 2006

NAVAJO TRANSPORTATION OUT OF DENVER , CO IS ALLOWING BAD STEER TIRES ON THEIR TRUCKS. ASK AT THE TA IN TROUTSDALE, OR , STOP SOME NAVAJO TRUCK SOMETIME. A DRIVER HAD A STEER TIRE THAT WAS LOOKING BAD ON ONE SIDE OF THE TIRE AND WAS UNSAFE ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP BUT NAVAJO SAID JUST TURN IT AROUND PUT IT OTHER SIDE SO YOU CAN'T SEE THE BAD PART AND BE DONE WITH IT. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR AWHILE NOW. THEY NEED TO BE LOOKED INTO FOR ALLOWING BAD STEER TIRES ON THEIR TRUCKS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10158630
Incident
May 30, 2006

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-14-015

EQUIPMENT

Service bulletin instructing to use a sharp razor blade to add a 1" wide slit to the reefer floor drain kazoo whenever replacing them in the field. This is to help the pressure inside the trailer equalize with the pressure outside the trailer when the temperature within a Utility reefer changes.

SB-07-014A

TRAILER HITCHES

This Service Bulletin addresses structural preparation required before retrofitting a Pintle Hook assembly to any RA Reefer Model Utility Trailer.

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.

17013

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NEW STANDARD REAR HEADER HARNESS AND LIGHTS ON ALL VS2DC/1DC AND VS2RA/1RA WITH SWING DOORS. UTILITY TRAILER. *TT

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 VS2RA by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2019000—
2017010—
2015030—
2014020—
2013010—
2011010—
2009420—
2008010—
2007010—
2004Viewing210—
2003020—
2002030—
2001020—
2000010—

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.