Recall 10V501 affects 423 2011 Great Dane trailers with missing suspension welds. Repair is free at any franchised Great Dane dealer.
Great Dane is recalling 423 2011 Trailer units equipped with Arvin Meritor suspension systems because welds are missing where the lower seat bracket meets the axle beam. The axle can roll out of position and affect trailer handling, which raises crash risk; Great Dane dealers will complete the repair free of charge once it is available.
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What's wrong?
The suspension on a 2011 Great Dane Trailer carries trailer weight and keeps the axle located under the frame while the trailer moves, turns, and brakes. On trailers equipped with the Arvin Meritor suspension system, the lower seat bracket is the mounting piece that sits against the axle beam. That joint needs full welds so the bracket and axle work as one structure under load.
On the recalled trailers, welds are missing where the lower seat bracket meets the axle beam. That means the suspension mounting point was not built as designed. Loads that should pass through a fully welded joint are left to an incomplete connection, which weakens the area that holds the suspension to the axle.
There is no warning sign before failure. The defect is at a welded joint under the trailer, so an owner or driver will not have a clear dashboard alert, noise, or handling clue before the bracket connection fails.
Who's affected?
| 2011 Great Dane Trailer | suspension component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 423 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
Missing welds can let the axle roll out of position and affect trailer handling. That loss of control raises the risk of a crash, so limit trailer use and schedule the repair soon if your VIN is included. Repair will be free at any franchised Great Dane dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Great Dane Trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact Great Dane at 1-912-644-2100 to confirm the free suspension repair path for your trailer.
- Ask Great Dane where to take the trailer for the repair that addresses missing welds between the lower seat bracket and axle beam.
- Reference recall number 10V501 when you call or schedule service.
- Avoid towing loaded trips until the suspension weld repair is complete, because the axle position affects trailer handling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Great Dane technician works with Arvin Meritor suspension information to identify trailers with the recalled suspension systems. The repair addresses missing welds at the interface of the lower seat bracket and axle beam on the suspension assembly. The filing says recalled trailers will be repaired free of charge, and the safety recall began on October 28, 2010. Because the filing does not give a current scheduling status, confirm the repair path with the dealer before arranging service. Parts and labor are covered once the dealer repair is available.
Timeline
| October 21, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 28, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V501?
Recall 10V501 covers 423 2011 Great Dane Trailer units equipped with Arvin Meritor suspension systems that have missing welds at the lower seat bracket and axle beam. Great Dane and Arvin Meritor identified the suspension systems and repair the vehicles free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011 Great Dane Trailer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 10V501. If it is, contact a franchised Great Dane dealer or Great Dane at 1-912-644-2100 to arrange the suspension repair. Reference recall number 10V501 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Great Dane's remedy states that the affected vehicles will be repaired free of charge. A franchised Great Dane dealer can confirm the repair path for your VIN.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is axle movement that affects trailer handling and increases crash risk. Great Dane reported that missing welds allow the axle to roll out of position, which affects the driver's control of the vehicle. The repair addresses the suspension weld issue for free.
What if I bought my Great Dane Trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received a recall letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your trailer is included, then call a franchised Great Dane dealer and reference recall 10V501.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V501000 |
|---|---|
| Great Dane customer service | 1-912-644-2100 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V501 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V501000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →