2015 Utility Vs2ra problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Air:disc:caliper 2015-11-19 · campaign 15V774000 · 10 vehicles
Defect: Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility Trailer) is recalling certain model year 2015 Refrigerated Van trailers, model VS2RA, manufactured on December 16, 2013, and equipped with certain Meritor EX225L2, EX225L+, or Bendix ADB22X axles. The affected axle assemblies have caliper bolts that may not have been properly tightened, allowing the caliper mounting bolts to back out and the caliper to detach from the axle flange.
Risk: If the caliper detaches from the axle flange, braking performance would be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Utility Trailer has notified the owners, and dealers will inspect the caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 4, 2015. Owners may contact Utility Trailer customer service at 1-818-965-1541, or Meritor customer service at 1-866-668-7221. Utility Trailer's number for this recall is 15E083.
Parking Brake:driveline:hydraulic:actuator 2015-02-04 · campaign 15V063000 · 3,111 vehicles
Defect: Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 FS2CHA, VS2DX, VS1DC, VS2RA, and VS1RA trailers manufactured April 14, 2014, to November 4, 2015, equipped with certain Haldex Life Seal Type 30/30 Long Stroke Air Brake Actuators manufactured January 9, 2014, to October 28, 2014. The affected actuators may have an incomplete attachment of the internal rubber diaphragm to the actuation mechanism of the parking brake section of the Life Seal actuator.
Risk: If the diaphragm is not completely attached, there may be internal leakage from the service section past the diaphragm, potentially trapping air pressure in the parking brake section. This air pressure in turn, if not vented, may prevent full release of the actuator unit, and may induce brake drag and may result in overheated wheelend service brakes, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Utility will notify owners and dealers will replace the actuators, free of charge. The recall began on April 9, 2015. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591. Utility's number for this recall is 14E075.
Suspension:rear:axle:non-Powered Axle Assembly 2014-04-24 · campaign 14V221000 · 507 vehicles
Defect: Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2015 VS1RA, VS2RA, and VS3RA refrigerated vans manufactured January 6, 2014, through March 14, 2014. The affected trailers may have over-tightened axle nuts which may result in axle bearing failure.
Risk: Bearing failure may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Utility has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the bearings, correct the axle nut tightening and verify the proper amount of wheel-end play, free of charge. The recall began on April 18, 2014. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591.
Service bulletins (6)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2019-09-06 · SB-14-015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Trailer Hitches 2019-08-30 · SB-07-014A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin addresses structural preparation required before retrofitting a pintle hook assembly to any ra reefer model utility trailer.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2019-08-29 · SB-08-176C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revision to sb-08-176 (original release 01/23/2015) regarding the enhanced bendix chamber warranty policy for utility. the revision includes a change to the bendix utility ddsb warranty shipping request form.
Structure:body:bumpers 2018-08-29 · SB-07-009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
utility re-issued the rear impact guard (bumber) requirements when requesting a replacement bumper and / or dot decal.
Structure 2018-02-23 · SB-10-005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
utility released a bulletin outlining reefer and dry van rub rail parts required and installation instructions.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-08-18 · SB-01-003 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.