Recall 17V164 covers 13 1999-2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle vehicles with high-mounted headlights. Free repair at any franchised Ride The Ducks dealer.
Ride The Ducks is recalling 13 1999-2002 Amphibious Vehicle passenger vehicles because the headlights were mounted too high, 56 inches above the ground instead of the required 22 to 54 inches. The wrong headlight height can reduce visibility for traffic and increase crash risk; the repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The headlights on 1999-2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle passenger vehicles are the forward lamps that light the road and make the vehicle visible to other drivers. They also have to sit at a controlled height so the beam points where drivers expect it, not directly into oncoming traffic.
On affected vehicles, the headlamps were installed as high as 56 inches above the ground. The required range is 22 to 54 inches, so a lamp mounted above that range puts the beam higher than the standard allows. That is a lighting noncompliance, not a bulb or wiring failure, and Ride The Ducks' repair moves the headlamps into the allowed height range.
There is no warning sign before failure. The lights can still turn on, but their mounted height is the issue, so an owner or operator needs the vehicle checked against the recall rather than waiting for a dashboard light or visible lamp outage.
Who's affected?
The same headlight component applies across the 1999-2002 model-year span.
| 2001 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | Headlights |
|---|---|
| 2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | Headlights |
| 2000 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | Headlights |
| 1999 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | Headlights |
| Units affected | 13 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Headlights installed outside the required height limits reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash, especially when lighting the road ahead matters most. Use extra caution until the headlight position is corrected. Repair will be free at any franchised Ride The Ducks dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1999-2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is included in this recall.
- Wait for Ride The Ducks repair instructions before scheduling the free headlight relocation.
- Call Ride The Ducks customer service at 1-417-266-7600 with questions, and reference recall number 17V164 when you call.
- Avoid nighttime operation until the headlights are relocated to the proper height so they do not blind oncoming traffic.
What happens at the repair
Ride The Ducks has identified a dealer repair for recall 17V164, but the final remedy is not listed as available in this record. Once the repair opens, a Ride The Ducks technician will relocate the headlights so they sit at the required height, free under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. The general reimbursement plan on file covers documented owner paid repairs tied to this issue before the recall notice. Keep repair paperwork and contact Ride The Ducks customer service about the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 16, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 20, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V164?
Recall 17V164 covers 13 1999-2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle passenger vehicles with headlights mounted at 56 inches, above the 22 to 54 inch range required by FMVSS 108. Ride The Ducks dealers will relocate the headlights to the proper height for free.
What should I do if my 1999-2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V164. If it is, contact a Ride The Ducks dealer or RTDI customer service at 1-417-266-7600 to arrange the headlight relocation. Reference recall number 17V164 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ride The Ducks dealers will relocate the headlights to the proper height free of charge. The recall began on April 20, 2017.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility from headlights installed above the required height range. If the headlights blind oncoming traffic or reduce what drivers can see, crash risk increases. The repair path is to have the headlights relocated to the proper height at no cost.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V164000 |
|---|---|
| Ride The Ducks customer service | 1-417-266-7600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V164 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V164000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →