Recall 15V781 affects 2,179 1998-2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer vehicles for weak rear impact guards. Free reinforcement at a Strick service center.
Strick is recalling 2,179 1998-2005 Dry Freight Van Trailer trailers because rear impact guards with gussets 46829 and 46830 are not strong enough to meet rear underride protection requirements. If a car rear-ends the trailer, the guard can fail to keep the car from traveling under it, and Strick will provide the free repair once it is available.
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What's wrong?
NHTSA campaign 15V781 identifies the rear impact guard on 1998-2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer units as the part at issue. The guard is the metal bar assembly mounted low across the back of the trailer. Its normal job is to absorb and resist crash forces so a passenger vehicle does not travel underneath the trailer in a rear impact.
On affected trailers, the guard assembly uses gussets 46829 and 46830. A gusset is a reinforcing bracket that helps the guard stay rigid where it attaches to the trailer structure. Strick testing found this assembly did not meet the strength requirements for rear impact guards, which means the guard lacks the verified resistance needed in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. This is a structural compliance problem, so an owner or fleet operator will not feel a change in braking, steering, or trailer handling before the guard is called on during a crash.
Who's affected?
Spans 8 model years for the same Dry Freight Van Trailer model, all tied to the body or structural component.
| 1998 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2000 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 2001 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 2002 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 2004 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 2003 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 1999 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| 2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 2,179 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
In a rear end collision, a weak rear impact guard can fail to keep an automobile from traveling under the trailer, increasing injury risk for the automobile's driver. Schedule the guard reinforcement soon and confirm the trailer is included before regular use. Repair will be free at any franchised Strick dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1998-2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact Strick customer service to confirm current repair timing before taking the trailer to a service center.
- Ask when a service center can install the free rear-impact-guard reinforcements that strengthen the underride guard.
- Reference recall number 15V781 when you call, and bring the owner notice if Strick mailed one.
- Tell dispatch and drivers that the rear impact guard is the recalled part, so rear-end collision protection is the concern until the reinforcement is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the service center, a Strick technician installs reinforcements to the rear impact guards covered by recall 15V781. The final repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. If you already paid for rear impact guard reinforcement work tied to this recall, ask Strick customer service at 1-704-436-2590 how to submit documentation under the reimbursement plan on file.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 23, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 13, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V781?
Recall 15V781 covers 2,179 1998-2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer units with rear impact guards using gussets 46829 and 46830. The guards can fail to prevent an automobile from traveling under the trailer in a rear-end crash. Strick service centers install reinforcements for free.
What should I do if my 1998-2005 Strick Dry Freight Van Trailer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 15V781. If it is, contact Strick customer service at 1-704-436-2590 or a Strick service center to arrange rear impact guard reinforcements. Reference recall 15V781 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Strick service centers install the rear impact guard reinforcements free of charge. That free repair applies even if the trailer changed owners.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is underride protection failure in a rear-end crash. If an automobile hits the back of the trailer, the rear impact guard can fail to stop the automobile from traveling under the trailer, increasing injury risk for the automobile driver.
What if I bought this Strick trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the trailer VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Dry Freight Van Trailer is included, then contact Strick customer service or a Strick service center with recall 15V781.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V781000 |
|---|---|
| Strick customer service | 1-704-436-2590 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V781 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V781000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →