2003 Utility Vs2ra: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2003 Utility Vs2ra
No owner has filed a defect report with NHTSA about the 2003 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 2003 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Utility Vs2ra, affecting an estimated 35 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, hydraulic:foundation components:drum and service brakes, air:antilock:abs warning light. 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, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
106 vehicles 2004-02-05- Defect
- On certain trailers equipped with webb wheel platinum series brake drums, these brake drums could crack on the braking surface.
- Consequence
- This could result in reduction or complete loss of braking which could result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Webb wheel will inspect and replace the brake drums. 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 webb wheel at 1-800-633-3256 or utility at 626-854-7217.
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.
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