2016 Utility Flatbed Trailers: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2016 Utility Flatbed Trailers
No owner has filed a defect report with NHTSA about the 2016 Utility Flatbed Trailers. That is not a clean bill of health — it usually means few were sold, or the year is too new for problems to have surfaced.
Recalls on the 2016 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2016 Utility Flatbed Trailers, affecting an estimated 10,910 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover equipment and parking brake. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EQUIPMENT
66 vehicles 2016-09-19- Defect
- Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Flatbed trailers, model FS2CHA, manufactured January 1, 2015, to September 16, 2016, equipped with certain Conestoga XP sliding trailer tarping systems with RAD-style rear closures. In the affected trailers, the rear aerodynamic device (RAD) may separate from the rear of the tarping system, due to rivet failure.
- Consequence
- If the RAD detaches from the trailer it may be a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Utility will notify owners, and dealers will replace the mounting rivets with a bolted connection, free of charge. The recall began on September 20, 2016. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-818-965-1541.
PARKING BRAKE
98,000 vehicles 2016-07-05- Defect
- Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company (Utility) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 FS1CHA, FS1CHS, FS2CDHA, FS2CHA, FS2CHS, FS3CDHA, FS3CHA, FS3CHS, TS1CA, TS2CDHA, TS2CHA, VS1DC, VS1RA, VS2DX, VS2RA, VS2RAP, VS3DX, VS3RA, and VS4DX refrigerated, dry van, and flatbed trailers manufactured January 1, 2014, to March 4, 2016, equipped with certain Bendix SR5 spring brake valves. These valves may have been improperly machined which may cause a delay of application of the spring brakes while parking.
- Consequence
- If there is a delay of the spring brake application, the trailer may roll away after it has decoupled from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Utility will contact owners and provide a remedy kit, complete with instructions, to repair any affected SR-5 trailer relay valves, free of charge. Utility distributed an interim notification to owners on July 27, 2016. The recall began on August 18, 2016. Owners may contact Utility customer service at 1-800-423-6591.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
Every year of the Utility Flatbed Trailers
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Why this page is short
A model year needs about 8 reports before percentiles mean anything, and this one does not have them. Complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road, so a thin page usually means a rare car, a new car, or a car whose owners do not file.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed