2015–2017 Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 and 1 other Mcelrath Trailers model: structure recall
If the trailer neck separates from the rear of the trailer there would be an increased risk of a crash.
What was reported
Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573Reported to NHTSA Aug 3, 2017 by Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers, owners notified Sep 19, 2017.
What that means, in plain English
Source: WhichTrim's reading of the filing above — not NHTSA's wordingA trailer neck separating from the rear portion creates a significant crash hazard (loss of structural integrity of the towed unit), but the hedged language ('may deform', 'possibly resulting') and the fact that this affects a trailer rather than taking control of the towing vehicle away from its dr
Written for us by a language model from the manufacturer's filed text, which is quoted in full above. Where the two differ, the filing is the record and this is only our summary of it.
The fix, from the dealer bulletin
Source: NHTSA remedy instructions and dealer noticeSpecial tools
- AND CONDITIONS • Grinder and Welding Machine WARNING Turn off the machine before servicing STEP(s) 1) Disconnect Battery
- 7) Grind all paint from area where welding will occur 8) Install cross member Item 8 to specified location. Weld as desc
- VSB/VIK 151 are included in this document
- 13) Install remote drain decal, Item 11, as shown 14) Install drain line connection fittings Items 6 & 7 as shown. Recon
- VX30-800 VERMEER GREAT PLAINS O.K C V8S1031162249 1M9FE1222GS284341
- VX50-800 VERMEER GREAT PLAINS O.K C V8H0201161776 1M9FE122XGS284894
- VX50-800 VERMEER GREAT PLAINS O.K C V8H0322161853 1M9FE1224GS284972
- VX50-800 VERMEER GREAT PLAINS O.K C V8H1214151687 1M9FE1225FS284803
Read from NHTSA’s copy of the manufacturer’s dealer documents (manufacturer campaign VSB 154). The procedure itself is in the bulletin; a franchised dealer has the current copy on the manufacturer’s portal, and that copy governs. Working a lot or a fleet? Recall Watch carries this line on every VIN it checks: remedy status, hours, stop-sale.
Which vehicles are covered
Source: NHTSA campaign 17V489000Vehicles built Oct 21, 2015 to Jan 11, 2017 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.
| Model year | On WhichTrim |
|---|---|
| 2015 Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | — |
| 2016 Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | — |
| 2017 Mcelrath Trailers VX30-800 | — |
| 2015 Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | — |
| 2016 Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | — |
| 2017 Mcelrath Trailers VX50-800 | — |
None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: the catalogue covers the cars, trucks and SUVs the EPA certifies from 2016 on, and these vehicles fall outside it — older model years, or motorhomes, trailers, buses, motorcycles and chassis cabs the EPA does not rate. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →
How much of it has been fixed
Source: manufacturer quarterly report, 49 CFR 573.7of the campaign
The final figure: the six quarters of reporting that 49 cfr 573.7 requires have closed.
This is the manufacturer's own cumulative count of vehicles it has inspected and repaired, divided by the vehicles the campaign covers. It files that count with NHTSA every quarter for six consecutive quarters, starting from the quarter in which owners were told a remedy was ready, and then the obligation ends — so a figure on an older campaign is where the count stopped, not where it stands today.
It rarely reaches 100%, and not because the work was not done. The same report asks manufacturers to count vehicles they could not reach at all — exported, stolen, scrapped, or simply never located — and those stay in the denominator. A low number means a lot of these vehicles are still out there unrepaired; it does not tell you which ones.
The federal paperwork
Source: nhtsa.govCheck one specific vehicle
A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. Type the VIN and the WhichTrim recall report checks this campaign’s build window and engine against it.
Campaign 17V489000 · the manufacturer calls it VSB 154
Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.
A recall covers a build range. Only your VIN settles it.
Check it with the WhichTrim recall report now, or have us check it every night and email you when something new is filed.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573Is VSB 154 the same recall as 17V489000?
Yes. VSB 154 is the number Conel, LLC dba McElrath Trailers uses for this campaign in its own paperwork and in the letter it sends owners. 17V489000 is the number NHTSA files it under. One recall, two references — dealers and service departments generally quote the manufacturer's.
Does this recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.
How do I know whether my vehicle is included?
By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built Oct 21, 2015 to Jan 11, 2017. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.
What if the repair is not available yet?
It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.
What did the manufacturer say was wrong?
The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.
Who started this recall?
NHTSA's record credits the manufacturer. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.