Recall 17V165 covers 105 1996-2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle vehicles with incorrect dashboard telltales. Free repair through dealers once available.
Ride The Ducks is recalling 105 1996-2014 Amphibious Vehicle vehicles under recall 17V165 because the instrument cluster does not show the correct indicator symbols for turn signals, high beams, and windshield wipers. That can leave the operator unaware those systems are active, increasing crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once Ride The Ducks opens the remedy.
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What's wrong?
The instrument cluster in a 1996-2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is the panel the driver reads for signals, lighting, and wiper status. It is supposed to show clear symbols, such as left and right turn arrows and the high beam symbol, so the driver knows which system is active without guessing from color alone.
On affected vehicles, the panel was built without the required symbols for the turn signal and high beam indicators. The display lights a solid color, but it does not show the matching symbol. The wiper system indicator also does not light when the headlights are on. That means the controls and displays do not meet the required driver display standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is built into the panel, so the driver notices it only by checking the display: the symbols are missing, or the wiper indicator stays dark with the headlights activated.
Who's affected?
All listed model years use the same instrument panel component.
| 1999 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
|---|---|
| 1997 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2008 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2006 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2009 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2007 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2003 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2000 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2012 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2013 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2010 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2004 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2002 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2001 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 1996 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 1998 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| 2011 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle | instrument panel |
| Units affected | 105 |
| 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?
Incorrect telltale illumination can leave the operator unaware that the turn signals or high beam headlights are active, which increases the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before the display problem. Schedule the recall repair when available. Repair will be free at any franchised Ride The Ducks dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1996-2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact Ride The Ducks customer service at 1-417-266-7600 to confirm current repair timing before scheduling service.
- Ask for the free instrument-panel telltale and control replacement, which fixes the missing turn-signal, high-beam, and wiper-system indicator symbols.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 17V165 when you call.
- Use extra care with turn signals, high beams, headlights, and windshield wipers until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Once the final dealer repair opens, a Ride The Ducks technician will replace the instrument panel telltales and controls so the turn signal, high beam, and windshield wiper indicators display correctly. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. Ride The Ducks has a general reimbursement plan on file for related out-of-pocket repairs. If you already paid for this repair, contact Ride The Ducks customer service at 1-417-266-7600 with your repair documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 13, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 20, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V165?
Recall 17V165 covers 105 1996-2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle units with instrument panel telltales that do not show the correct turn signal, high beam, or windshield wiper indicators. Ride The Ducks dealers replace the affected telltales and controls for free.
What should I do if my 1996-2014 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V165. If it is, contact a franchised Ride The Ducks dealer or Ride The Ducks customer service at 1-417-266-7600 to arrange the instrument panel telltale and control replacement. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ride The Ducks says dealers will replace the instrument panel telltales and controls free of charge for vehicles included in recall 17V165.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the operator can miss whether the turn signals, high beam headlights, or windshield wiper indicator are active. That confusion can increase crash risk, especially when signaling, using high beams, or driving with the headlights on.
When did the Ride The Ducks recall repair start?
Ride The Ducks began the recall on April 20, 2017. If your VIN is included and the repair was never completed, contact a franchised Ride The Ducks dealer or Ride The Ducks customer service and reference recall 17V165.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V165000 |
|---|---|
| Ride The Ducks customer service | 1-417-266-7600 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V165 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V165000 |
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 →