NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Utility VS2RA Recalls & Complaints

The 2009 Utility VS2RA has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 4 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Utility dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Utility VS2RA. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2009 Utility VS2RA owner complaints

Owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Utility VS2RA, describing incidents dated October 9, 2009 to June 9, 2011.

Most-cited components

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10406175 · Filed June 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…
ODI #10348292 · Filed August 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…
ODI #10328065 · Filed April 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

Read all 4 complaints

WHEEL SEPARATION/ARVINMERITOR

NHTSA #11V117000 · Power Train — Axle Assembly · NHTSA notice

Reported February 18, 2011 · UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Potentially affected: 384 vehicles

Owners notified February 22, 2011

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

SUSPENSION SYSTEMS/ARVIN MERITOR

NHTSA #10V545000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported November 5, 2010 · UTILITY TRAILER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

Potentially affected: 189 vehicles

Owners notified October 15, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2009 Utility VS2RA. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

4 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Utility VS2RA.

Tires

ODI #10406175

Incident: June 9, 2011 · Filed: June 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.

Suspension

ODI #10348292

Incident: July 8, 2010 · Filed: August 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

Structure

ODI #10328065

Incident: October 9, 2009 · Filed: April 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

Latches/Locks/Linkages

ODI #10321814

Incident: October 20, 2009 · Filed: March 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.

Other Utility VS2RA model years

Check your 2009 Utility VS2RA VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Utility VS2RA at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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