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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Utility Trailer | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility Trailer | 1996 | 7 | 1 |
| Utility Trailer | 1997 | 10 | 1 |
| Utility Trailer | 1998 | 12 | 2 |
| Utility Trailer | 1999 | 5 | 1 |
| Utility Trailer | 2000 | 4 | 2 |
| Utility Trailer | 2001 | 2 | 2 |
Other service brakes, air recalls in 2002
58 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the service brakes, air; UTILITY TRAILER MFG. CO. filed 14 campaigns in all.
| 02V139027 31 Dec 2002 | VERMEER MANUFACTURING COMPANY |
| 02V321001 2 Dec 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V321002 26 Nov 2002 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 02V139026 16 Oct 2002 | DRIVE LINE INC. |
| 02V210009 4 Oct 2002 | FEATHERLITE, INC. |
| 02V210008 23 Sept 2002 | TRIAD MACK SALES |
| 02V241002 20 Sept 2002 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 02V254000 11 Sept 2002 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002