2002 Utility Vs2ra: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2002 Utility Vs2ra
No owner has filed a defect report with NHTSA about the 2002 Utility Vs2ra. 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 2002 model year
NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2002 Utility Vs2ra, affecting an estimated 53 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 service brakes, air:antilock:abs warning light, trailer hitches and service brakes, air:controls, pedals and linkages. 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.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT
307 vehicles 2003-10-07- Defect
- On certain trailers equipped with bendix ec-30t electronic control units (ecu). If the trailer-mounted ABS warning lamp circuit experiences an electrical short and the short is not repaired, the high side power switch inside the ecu that controls the illumination of the trailer-mounted ABS warning lamp may eventually become thermally stressed and experience an electrical short.
- Consequence
- If the power switch shorts, it can result in an over-current condition in the ecu and lead to excessive heat, smoke, and possible fire.
- Remedy
- Bendix will provide a remedy kit and detailed instructions and also provide a labor allowance for the repair. 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 bendix at 1-800-478-1793 or utility at 626-965-1541.
TRAILER HITCHES
24 vehicles 2002-12-03- Defect
- On certain dual axle, refrigerated trailers built with an optional pintle hook assembly (premier type) for use in "super doubles" operations, some welds may have been missed that attach the reinforcement channel to the pintle hook mounting plate at the rear subframe.
- Consequence
- Full or partial separation of the pintle hook assembly from its mounting could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the pintle hook mounting assembly. Owner notification is expected to begin during december 2002 or january 2003. 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 utility at 1-800-423-6591.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS, PEDALS AND LINKAGES
1,095 vehicles 2001-06-26- Defect
- Vehicle description: trailers equipped with certain haldex brake system two and four port relay valves. The valve may stick open when a high-pressure application is released.
- Consequence
- When the valve sticks open, it can result in a total loss of air from either the service or the park brake system. The driver may lose braking ability under a service application, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace these valves. Haldex is conductng the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. 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 haldex at 1-816-891-2470 or utility trailer at 1-626-965-7215.
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 Vs2ra
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