Massive recall affects more than 30,000 trailers with parking brake issue

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Land Line (OOIDA)  /  July 26, 2016

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.

(Once an example of American technological might in the commercial truck segment, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems was acquired by Germany's Knorr-Bremse in 2002)

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.

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9,000 more trailers added to recall

Overdrive  /  August 11, 2016

After a group of trailer manufacturers issued a recall in late July on more than 30,000 trailers due to an issue with Bendix SR-5 Trailer Spring Brake Valves, another group of manufacturers has joined in recalling some of its trailers.

The valve is a “reservoir-mounted trailer valve that can control up to four spring brake actuators during parking or emergency applications,” Bendix says.

Manac, Polar Tank Trailer, Heil, East and Hyundai recalled a total of more than 9,000 trailers to add to the original group of recalls. The following trailers are now also included in the recall:

• 2016 Manac flatbed
• 2017-2018 Manac van trailer
• 2014-2016 Polar Tank DOT 406 tank trailer
• 2014-2016 Polar Tank DOT 407 tank trailer
• 2014-2016 Polar Tank DOT 412 tank trailer
• 2014-2015 Polar Tank MC 331 tank trailer
• 2014-2016 Polar Tank non-code tank trailer
• 2014-2016 Heil crude trailer
• 2014-2016 Heil dry bulk trailer
• 2014-2016 Heil flatbed
• 2014-2016 petroleum pull trailer
• 2014-2016 East flatbed
• 2014-2016 East flatbed tipper
• 2014-2016 East frame dump
• 2004-2016 Hyundai Translead chassis
• 2004-2016 Hyundai Translead container
• 2004-2016 Hyundai Translead van reefer
• 2004-2016 Hyundai Translead van trailer

Trailers already recalled include:

• 2015-2017 Brenner liquid tank
• 2015-2016 Cheetah Bridgemaster chassis
• 2016 Cheetah curtainside flatbed
• 2015-2016 Cheetah extendable chassis
• 2015 Cheetah flatbed
• 2014-2016 Cheetah gooseneck chassis
• 2015-2016 Cheetah straight frame chassis
• 2015-2017 Fontaine Revolution
• 2015-2017 Great Dane dry van
• 2015-2017 Great Dane reefer
• 2015-2017 Great Dane flatbed
• 2014-2016 Hackney beverage trailers
• 2014-2016 Kindron reefer trailers
• 2015, 2017 Strick tandem axle van trailers
• 2015-2017 Transcraft platform trailers
• 2014-2016 Utility dry van trailers
• 2014-2016 Utility flatbed trailers
• 2014-2016 Utility reefer trailers
• 2015-2016 Vermeer TR620
• 2015-2016 Vermeer TR626
• 2014-2016 Vermeer DT6
• 2014-2016 Vermeer HG4000
• 2014-2016 Vermeer HG6000
• 2014-2016 Vermeer HG8000
• 2014-2016 Vermeer TG5000
• 2014-2016 Vermeer TG7000
• 2014-2015 Vermeer TG9000
• 2014-2016 Vermeer WC2300XL
• 2015-2016 Vermeer WC2500XL
• 2015-2017 Wabash National van trailers
• 2015 Wilson CD-1080
• 2015 Wilson DWH-550

Bendix’s PR firm said that “under a combination of a unique set of circumstances, it is possible (though not probable) for an internal leakage to develop in the SR-5 unit, resulting in slow to apply spring brakes when parking the trailer,” and added that “the leak is heard or observed at the supply (red) gladhand when uncoupled from the tractor,” and “if coupled to the tractor, a leak may be heard from the exhaust of the park control valve or from a quick release valve in the trailer supply at the trailer protection valve.”

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Bendix Offers Remedy for Recalled Parking Brake Valve

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  August 15, 2016

Bendix has released a repair kit in connection with the voluntary recall of around 200,000 of its SR-5 trailer spring brake valves.

The no-cost permanent remedy kit, Bendix part number K140496, fixes an issue with the SR-5 valve that allowed an internal leak to develop in the unit, resulting in slow application of spring  brakes when parking a trailer. The leak is heard if observed at the supply gladhand when uncoupled from the tractor, or if coupled, from the exhaust of the park control valve.

Bendix is directing owners of the affected trailers to work through their vehicle OEM or an authorized Bendix parts outlet to obtain the remedy kit.  Back in May, Bendix notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the start of a voluntary safety recall for the SR-5 valve.

The recall includes all Bendix SR-5 trailer spring brake valves manufactured between Jan. 1, and Mar. 4, 2016. The SR-5 is made for trailers only, and could affect any trailer that uses the valve. The action does not impact SR-5 valves manufactured prior to or after the stated dates.

These valves were made available through vehicle OEMs and the aftermarket. As part of the reporting requirements, OEMs will indicate which of the trailers they manufactured – identified by year and model number – are among the trailers containing valves reported by Bendix as a part of this voluntary action.

Bendix Product Action Center representatives are available to assist vehicle owners with questions about this voluntary recall Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, toll-free at 1-877-345-9526, or by email at SR5campaign@bendix.com. Information is also available at the online Product Action Center under the Services & Support tab on bendix.com