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Campaign 17V501 Posted August 11, 2017 57 units

1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle Recall 17V501: Axle

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 25, 2026

Recall 17V501 covers 57 1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle units for a front axle housing fracture. Axle replacement is free.

Ride The Ducks is recalling 57 1996-2005 Amphibious Vehicle passenger vehicles under recall 17V501 because excessive fatigue can fracture the front axle housing where the knuckle ball meets the housing. A fracture can lead to loss of vehicle control and raise crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once Ride The Ducks makes it available.

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What's wrong?

The front axle housing on a 1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is the metal structure that supports the front axle and helps keep the wheel-end steering parts in position. At the end of that housing, the knuckle ball is the rounded connection point where the steering knuckle works with the axle so the front wheels can turn.

On affected vehicles, that connection point is vulnerable to excessive fatigue. Repeated load cycles weaken the housing where the knuckle ball meets the axle housing. When the metal fractures at that joint, the front axle no longer holds the wheel-end parts as designed, which creates a loss-of-control risk.

There is no warning sign before failure. The recall fix uses new axles with a coupler welded to the axle, so the repaired axle assembly has added support at the affected area.

Who's affected?

Spans 10 model years of the Amphibious Vehicle, all tied to the drive axle.

1999 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle drive axle
1997 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle drive axle
2000 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle drive axle
2003 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle drive axle
2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle drive axle
Units affected57

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?

Loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash. If your VIN is included, avoid unnecessary trips and contact the service provider for repair guidance before continued use. Repair will be free at any franchised Ride The Ducks dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is included in this recall.
  2. Wait for Ride The Ducks repair instructions before scheduling service.
  3. Contact Ride The Ducks customer service at 1-417-266-7600 for repair timing, and reference recall number 17V501 when you call.
  4. Ask about the free front-axle replacement with a welded coupler, which addresses the axle housing fracture risk at the knuckle ball connection.
  5. Avoid operating the vehicle if steering or vehicle control feels abnormal, and keep it out of passenger service until Ride The Ducks gives repair instructions.

What happens at the repair

The remedy record describes a free axle replacement, but the final repair status is still under development. Once Ride The Ducks opens the repair, a Ride The Ducks technician or authorized licensor will replace the front axle with a replacement axle that has a coupler welded to it. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Ask Ride The Ducks customer service how the vehicle should be handled until the repair is ready.

Timeline

August 11, 2017 NHTSA published the recall
September 21, 2017 Owner notification mailed
September 26, 2017 VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
September 26, 2017 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 17V501?

Recall 17V501 covers 57 1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle units with front axle housings that can fracture where the knuckle ball connects to the housing. A fractured axle housing can cause loss of vehicle control and increase crash risk. The remedy replaces the front axles for free.

What should I do if my 1996-2005 Ride The Ducks Amphibious Vehicle is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific amphibious vehicle is included in recall 17V501. If it is, contact Ride The Ducks at 1-417-266-7600 and reference recall 17V501. The approved repair is front axle replacement, and the recall repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. Ride The Ducks will replace the affected front axles with axles that have a coupler welded to the axle, free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is loss of vehicle control. Excessive fatigue can fracture the front axle housing at the connection between the knuckle ball and the housing. If that happens while the vehicle is moving, crash risk increases.

When did recall 17V501 begin?

Recall 17V501 began on September 21, 2017. Ride The Ducks said company-owned operators and licensors would be notified, and the remedy path is replacement of the affected front axles free of charge.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V501000
Ride The Ducks customer service1-417-266-7600
NHTSA recall #17V501
NHTSA recall # (full)17V501000

Source documents

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 →