RoadVitals

2009 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.
4
Latest Jun 13, 2011
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 Feb 18, 2011
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 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Utility VS2RA, most frequently naming the body & structure, interior & seats and suspension categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Body & structure125.0%
  • Interior & seats125.0%
  • Suspension125.0%
  • Tires & wheels125.0%

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
11V117000

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

Feb 18, 2011
384 units potentially affected
The defect: UTILITY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 VS2RA AND MODEL YEAR 2008 VS2DX REFRIGERATED AND DRY VANS EQUIPPED WITH ARVINMERITOR AXLES. INSUFFICIENT TORQUE MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED ON THE SPINDLE NUT ON THE ARVINMERITOR TL SERIES TRAILER AXLES INSTALLED IN THESE VAN TRAILERS WHERE THE STAKE WASHER FOR THE NUT IS STAKED IN A SINGLE LOCATION AS OPPOSED TO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS.
The risk: LOW AND/OR NO TORQUE ON THE NUT CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE END-PLAY IN THE WHEEL-END SYSTEM AND COULD PROGRESS TO A WHEEL SEPARATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: ARVINMERITOR IS WORKING WITH THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO IDENTIFY AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES THAT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT AXLES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE ARVINMERITOR DEFECT REPORT 10E-058. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ARVIN MERITOR AT 1-248-273-4641.
UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
10V545000

SUSPENSION

Nov 5, 2010
189 units potentially affected
The defect: UTILITY TRAILER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VS2RA AND VS2DX TRAILERS EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN MERITOR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. THE SUSPECT SYSTEMS MAY HAVE MISSING WELDS AT THE INTERFACE OF THE LOWER SEAT BRACKET AND AXLE BEAM.
The risk: MISSING WELDS COULD ALLOW THE AXLE TO ROLL OUT OF POSITION AND POTENTIALLY IMPACT THE HANDLING OF THE TRAILER SUCH THAT A DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: UTILITY TRAILER IS WORKING WITH ARVINMERITOR TO IDENTIFY OWNERS WITH THE AFFECT SUSPENSION SYSTEMS. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ARVINMERITOR AT 1-248-435-0896.
UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 13, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 UNITED EXPRESS TRAILER (N/A) WITH MASTER TRACK TOURING TIRES (N/A), SIZE FT225/75/R15, DOT NUMBER: 9QM1. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10406175
Incident
Jun 9, 2011
Mileage
20,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Aug 9, 2010

PURCHASED AN 8 X16 CAR HAULER FROM QUALITY TRAILERS 4 LESS ON NOVEMBER 10,2009. TRAILER WAS USED FOR HAULING VEHICLES TO AND FROM SHOP LOCATION WITH NUMEROUS ADJUSTMENTS TO RECEIVERS, HITCHES, TIRES, SHOCKS, AND STABILIZER BUSHINGS ON OUR 1985 FORD F250 TO TRY AND ADJUST FOR A CONSTANT TAIL WAGGLING ISSUE. ON JULY 8, 2010 WE WERE HAULING A1997 FORD RANGER WITH NO ENGINE IN IT BACK TO OUR SHOP LOCATION. UPON TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY THE REAR AXLE ON THE TRAILER BROKE WITH THE VEHICLE STILL ON THE TRAILER. WHEN WE LOOKED TO SEE WHY THIS HAPPENED WE NOTED THAT THE AXLE HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY WELDED. WE CONTACTED BOTH QUALITY TRAILERS 4 LESS AND LONE WOLF TRAILERS WHO ARE OUT OF ALABAMA AND THE HOLDER OF THE WARRANTY FOR OUR TRAILER. AFTER 3 DAYS WE RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM LONE WOLF TRAILERS ADMITTING THAT THEY KNEW OF SOME OF THE TRAILERS HAVING FAULTY AXLES . AT THIS POINT IN TIME AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6 EMAILS AND 4 PHONE CALLS WE ARE NO CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION OF THIS SITUATION. WE FEEL THEY NEED TO BE REPORTED SIMPLY ON THE BASIS THAT THEY KNEW OF FAULTY AXLE SITUATIONS AND YET THEY DID NOT CONTACT US THE CONSUMER TO LET US KNOW OF THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SAFETY HAZARD. IF THIS BREAKAGE HAD OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE OR ANY OTHER BUSY ROADWAY AND NOT IN OUR DRIVEWAY I AM QUITE SURE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED ABOUT IT. WE DID NOT FILE A POLICE REPORT AS THE ONLY DAMAGE DONE WAS TO THE TRAILER ITSELF AND HAPPENED ON OUR PROPERTY. WE FEEL THAT THEY NOT ONLY PUT OUR SAFETY BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS ON THE LINE BY NOT NOTIFYING US OF THE KNOWN AXLE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO BE CHECKED OUT IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348292
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
Mileage
1,500 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 29, 2010

A STOUGHTON 40 FT HOPPER TRAILER INCURRED A FRAME FAILURE UNDER LOAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER CROSSING RR TRACKS. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THIS TRAILER IN INCORRECT IN THE REQUIRED FIELD FOR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION. "STOUGHTON" IS NOT AN OPTION ON THIS SITE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328065
Incident
Oct 9, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 24, 2010

THULE UTILITY TRAILER IS EQUIPPED WITH BAD SAFETY CHAINS. THE CHAIN IS MADE OF PLASTIC COATED STEEL CABLE WITH THE CRIMMPED COUPLINGS. I PULLED THE CHAIN WITH MY HAND AND IT CAME APART. THIS CHAIN SUPPOSE TO KEEP TRAILER ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE IN CASE IT LOOSES BALL CONNECTION. TRAILER IS DESIGNED TO CARRY 1300 POUNDS OF CARGO LOAD, SO THE CABLE SHOULD BE MADE MUCH MORE DURABLE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT CABLE WAS CRIMPED OVER PLASTIC COATING THAT IS THE BIGGEST CABLE HANDLING VIOLATION. E-TRAILER, THAT SOLD ME THULE 205 UTILITY TRAILER SENT A REPLACEMENT CABLE THAT WAS MADE EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. I WAS POINTING OUT THIS PROBLEM TO CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER JULY, BUT SHE WAS WONDERING WHY ONLY MY CABLE BROKE, BUT NO ONE ELSE COMPLAINED. I TRIED TO EXPLAIND HER THAT IF SOME ONE HAS TO RELAY ON SAFETY CABLE, THESE CABLE WILL FAIL AND THEY WILL HAVE LAW SUITS. I AM THE ENGINEER THAT WORKS WITH CABLES AND I KNOW THAT EVERY MANUFACTURER OF COATED CABLE PUTS NOTES WARNING DO NOT CRIM ANYTHING OVER PLASTIC COATING AS IT WILL NOT WORK. APPEARS THULE CAN NOT READ INSTRUCTIONS, OR THEY ARE NOT TARNSLATED IN TO CHINESE WHERE TRAILERS ARE MADE. THEY SOLD A LOTS OF TRAILERS AND LOOKS LIKE EVERY ONE HAS THIS HIDDEN PROBLEM. I MADE MY OWN CABLES NOT WAITING FOR SOMETHING BAD TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID
10321814
Incident
Oct 20, 2009

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.

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—
2009Viewing420—
2008010—
2007010—
2004210—
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.