Recall 16V525 covers 203 2014-2016 Heil Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, and Crude Trailer units for delayed spring-brake application. Repair kit is free.
Heil is recalling 203 2014-2016 Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, and Crude Trailer units because certain Bendix SR5 spring brake valves were improperly machined, delaying spring brake application while parking. A delayed spring brake application can let a decoupled trailer roll away and increase the risk of a crash or injury; the Heil dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Bendix SR-5 Trailer Spring Brake Control valve on the 2014-2016 Heil Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, and Crude Trailer is part of the trailer parking brake system. It routes air pressure so the spring brakes release for travel and apply when the trailer is parked or disconnected from the tractor.
On affected trailers, the valve body was built from a revised drawing that left out the check valve seat radius dimension during a supplier change. That machining error changes how the valve handles air flow. When the driver sets the parking brake, spring brake application can be delayed instead of applying promptly, leaving the trailer slow to park.
The event can happen without warning. Before the tractor is decoupled, an affected trailer can have an audible air leak from the dash-mounted park control valve or from the red glad hand when it is disconnected.
Who's affected?
Covers four Heil trailer configurations from 2014-2016, all tied to the parking brake.
| 2016 Heil Flatbed | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2016 Heil Petroleum Pull Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2015 Heil Petroleum Pull Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2016 Heil Dry Bulk Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2014 Heil Crude Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2016 Heil Crude Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2015 Heil Dry Bulk Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2015 Heil Flatbed | Parking brake |
| 2014 Heil Dry Bulk Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2015 Heil Crude Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2014 Heil Petroleum Pull Trailer | Parking brake |
| 2014 Heil Flatbed | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 203 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and trailer model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
Delayed spring brake application can let a trailer roll away after it decouples from the tractor, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Treat an audible air leak at the dash mounted park control valve or red glad hand after disconnecting as a reason to secure the trailer and call the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Heil dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2016 Heil Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, or Crude Trailer is included in this recall.
- Watch for Heil's owner notice or contact Heil customer service for the current remedy-kit instructions before arranging the repair.
- Reference recall number 16V525 when you call Heil or speak with the service facility.
- Use the free Bendix SR-5 relay-valve remedy kit to fix the parking-brake delay that lets the trailer roll after decoupling.
- Secure the trailer before decoupling until the relay-valve repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Because the remedy is listed as under development, wait for Heil to confirm that the repair kit and instructions are open for your trailer. Once available, Heil will provide a Bendix remedy kit for the SR-5 trailer relay valves, free of charge. A Heil technician will use that kit to repair the affected spring brake valve so the parking brake applies as intended. Heil has a general reimbursement plan on file for qualifying owner-paid repairs. Contact Heil customer service at 1-800-400-6913 if you already paid for a related SR-5 valve repair and need the reimbursement process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 11, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V525?
Recall 16V525 covers 203 2014-2016 Heil Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, and Crude Trailer units with Bendix SR-5 spring brake valves that were improperly machined. The defect can delay spring brake application while parking. Heil and Bendix provide the remedy kit and repair instructions free of charge.
What should I do if my 2014-2016 Heil Flatbed, Petroleum Pull Trailer, Dry Bulk Trailer, or Crude Trailer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 16V525. If it is, contact Heil customer service at 1-800-400-6913 and ask how to get the Bendix SR-5 remedy kit and repair instructions. Reference recall number 16V525 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and Heil's remedy states that Bendix provides the SR-5 trailer relay valve remedy kit and instructions free of charge for affected trailers.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is trailer rollaway after decoupling from the tractor. If the spring brakes apply late while parking, the trailer can move when the driver expects it to stay in place, increasing crash or injury risk. Confirm the VIN and complete the free SR-5 valve remedy.
What if I bought this Heil trailer used?
The free recall remedy still follows the trailer, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Heil trailer is included, then contact Heil customer service at 1-800-400-6913 with recall number 16V525 and ask for the Bendix SR-5 remedy instructions.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V525000 |
|---|---|
| Heil customer service | 1-800-400-6913 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V525 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V525000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →