Recall 14V638 affects 29 2009-2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer trailers with weak rear impact guards. Repair is free at any franchised Strick dealer.
Strick is recalling 29 2009-2015 Dry Freight Van Trailer trailers under recall 14V638 because rear impact guards with certain gussets do not meet federal strength and energy absorption standards. If one of these trailers is struck from behind, the guard can underperform and increase injury risk in a crash; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear impact guard on a 2009-2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is the metal guard mounted across the lower rear of the trailer. Its job is to help manage a rear impact and reduce underride by staying strong enough and absorbing impact energy as designed. The gussets are support plates that help tie that guard structure together.
On the affected trailers, the rear impact guard uses certain gusset part numbers that do not meet the required federal strength and energy absorption standard. This is a structural compliance problem, not a normal wear item. In a rear impact, the guard does not provide the required strength and energy management for that crash-protection system.
There is no warning sign before failure. The guard can look normal during daily use, and a routine walkaround will not tell an owner whether the included gusset part numbers are installed.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2009-2015 model years with the same Equipment component.
| 2010 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2014 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| 2012 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| 2011 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| 2009 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| 2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| 2013 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | Equipment |
| Units affected | 29 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
Rear impact guards that do not meet required standards reduce rear crash protection. If the trailer is struck from behind, that defect increases injury risk in the crash. Schedule the guard reinforcement soon and tell the service desk this is recall 14V638. Repair will be free at any franchised Strick dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact Strick customer service at 1-704-436-2590 to confirm the free rear-impact-guard reinforcement path for your trailer.
- Ask Strick where to have the rear impact guards reinforced so they meet the required strength and energy absorption standards.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 14V638 when you call.
- Limit trailer use until Strick confirms the rear impact guard repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the service appointment, a Strick technician reinforces the trailer's rear impact guard so the guard has the required strength and energy absorption. Strick's filing says owner notification began on December 5, 2014, and the reinforcement is free of charge. If the repair has not already been completed on your trailer, ask Strick or the servicing dealer to confirm the VIN, the gusset part numbers, and the repair scheduling before the trailer goes in.
Timeline
| October 10, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 5, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V638?
Recall 14V638 covers 29 2009-2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer units with rear impact guards that do not meet federal strength and energy-absorption standards. If the trailer is struck from behind, the noncompliant guard increases injury risk in a crash. Strick will reinforce the guards for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2015 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 14V638. If it is, contact Strick customer service at 1-704-436-2590 or a Strick service contact to arrange the rear-impact-guard reinforcement. Reference recall 14V638 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Strick's remedy for recall 14V638 says the rear impact guards will be reinforced free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included trailers.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is increased injury in a rear-impact crash. Recall 14V638 says the rear impact guards on included trailers do not meet required strength and energy-absorption standards, so the guard does not provide the required underride protection if another vehicle strikes the trailer from behind.
What if I bought this trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the trailer, not the first owner, so check your VIN to confirm whether your Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is included. If it is, reference recall 14V638 when arranging the rear-impact-guard reinforcement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V638000 |
|---|---|
| Strick customer service | 1-704-436-2590 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V638 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V638000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →