Trailer manufacturers are recalling tens of thousands of trailers due to an issue with Bendix spring valves. Approximately 10 manufacturers have recalled a total of more than 30,000 trailers in response to an equipment recall Bendix announced in June.
On June 8, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sent out a recall notice regarding an issue with nearly 195,000 Bendix SR-5 trailer spring brake valves. According to NHTSA, brake valves were improperly machined without a radius on the internal check valve seat, causing a delay of application of the spring brakes while parking.
More than a month later, NHTSA has sent out a recall notice with specific makes and models of trailers affected by the recall. Affected trailers include:
Brenner liquid tank, 2015-2017
Cheetah Bridgemaster chassis trailers, 2015-2016
Cheetah curtainside flatbed trailers, 2016
Cheetah extendable chassis trailers, 2014-2016
Cheetah flatbed trailers, 2015
Cheetah gooseneck chassis trailers, 2014-2016
Cheetah straight frame chassis trailers, 2015-2016
Fontaine Revolution, 2015-2017
Great Dane flatbed trailers, 2015-2017
Great Dane reefer trailers, 2015-2017
Great Dane van trailers, 2015-2017
Hackney beverage trailers, 2014-2016
Kidron refrigerated trailers, 2014-2016
Transcraft platform trailers, 2015-2017
Utility dry van trailers. 2014-2016
Utility flatbed trailers, 2014-2016
Utility refrigerated trailers, 2014-2016
Vermeer DT6, 2014-2016
Vermeer HG4000, 2014-2016
Vermeer HG6000, 2014-2016
Vermeer HG8000, 2014-2016
Vermeer TG5000, 2014-2016
Vermeer TG7000, 2014-2016
Vermeer TG9000, 2014-2015
Vermeer TR620, 2015-2016
Vermeer TR626, 2015-2016
Vermeer WC2300XL, 2014-2016
Vermeer WC2500XL, 2015-2016
Wabash National van trailers, 2015-2017
Wilson CD-1080, 2015
Wilson DWH-550, 2015
The SR-5 valve is a reservoir-mounted trailer valve that can control four spring brake actuators during parking or emergency applications, a NHTSA safety recall report explains. A trailer will have an audible air leak from the dash mounted park control valve or red gladhand when it is disconnected, prior to decoupling when a slow-to-park situation occurs. This leakage will continue until the trailer reservoirs and spring brake chambers are depleted of air pressure.
Remedies for this recall are still under development. Expected recall dates vary by manufacturer. Owners of potentially affected trailers can contact NHTSA at 888-327-4236. NHTSA recall number for the original Bendix equipment recall is 16E-045.
