Recall 20V201 affects 43 2012-2020 Vac-Tron vacuum excavator trailers with improper lamps, reflective tape, and reflectors. Free repair at any franchised Vac-Tron dealer.
Vac-Tron is recalling 43 2012-2020 Mc 573 Sdt, Mc 535, Mc 533 Sdt, Minicombo, and Mc 555 Sdt vacuum excavator trailers because their lamps, reflective tape, and reflectors do not meet visibility requirements. At night, these trailer visibility problems increase crash risk; Vac-Tron dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The exterior lighting on the 2012-2020 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt, Mc 535, Mc 533 Sdt, Minicombo, and Mc 555 Sdt trailers includes front clearance lamps, conspicuity tape, and reflex reflectors. Clearance lamps mark the front outline of the trailer. Conspicuity tape and reflectors help show the trailer's sides and rear when another driver's lights hit them.
On the affected trailers, the visibility equipment was not built to the required layout. The front clearance lamps are not positioned correctly, and the jetter blocks the passenger side front clearance lamp from view. Vac-Tron also found too little conspicuity tape on the sides and rear, and some trailers lack side or rear reflex reflectors.
This is not a wear item that slowly changes feel while you tow the trailer. There is no warning sign before failure. An owner doing a walkaround will see the lamps, tape, and reflector layout, but the recall is about whether that layout meets the required exterior-lighting standard.
Who's affected?
Spans five Vac-Tron model lines across 2012-2020, all under the exterior lighting component.
| 2012 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2013 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2012 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2013 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2014 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Minicombo | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2014 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2012 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2012 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2013 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Minicombo | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Mc 535 | Exterior lighting |
| 2014 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2013 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2014 Vac-Tron Mc 533 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Mc 555 Sdt | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 43 |
| 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 trailer is included.
What's the safety risk?
Improperly positioned lamps, insufficient reflective tape, and missing reflectors make the trailer harder for other drivers to see at night, increasing the risk of a crash. Use extra caution after dark and schedule the remedy soon. Repair is free at any franchised Vac-Tron dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2020 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt, Mc 535, Mc 533 Sdt, Minicombo, or Mc 555 Sdt trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Vac-Tron dealer to schedule the free remedy-kit installation that corrects the clearance-lamp, reflective-tape, and reflector visibility problems.
- Bring the recall notice if Vac-Tron mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V201 when you call.
- Avoid nighttime towing until the repair is complete because the trailer is less visible at night.
What happens at the repair
At a Vermeer dealer, the trailer receives a Vac-Tron field remedy kit. The kit includes the parts and instructions needed to correct the lamp, reflector, and conspicuity tape noncompliance. The dealer installs the kit and submits the warranty claim for the covered parts and labor. The recall repair is free, so the owner should not be charged for the remedy work covered by campaign 20V201.
Timeline
| April 7, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 5, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V201?
Recall 20V201 covers 43 2012-2020 Vac-Tron MC-series and Minicombo vacuum excavator trailers with exterior lighting and reflector defects. Front clearance lamps, reflective tape, and reflex reflectors fail to meet FMVSS 108, which can make the trailer harder to see at night.
What should I do if my 2012-2020 Vac-Tron Mc 573 Sdt, Mc 535, Mc 533 Sdt, Minicombo, Mc 555 Sdt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 20V201. If it is, contact Vac-Tron customer service at 1-888-822-8766 or a Vermeer dealer to arrange installation of the remedy kit. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the safety defect at no cost. For recall 20V201, Vac-Tron provides the remedy kit, and Vermeer dealers install it free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The trailer can be harder for other drivers to see at night. Recall 20V201 involves improperly positioned front clearance lamps, a blocked passenger-side front clearance lamp, too little conspicuity tape, and missing side or rear reflex reflectors, increasing crash risk.
What if I bought this Vac-Tron trailer used?
The free recall repair still applies to the trailer. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Vac-Tron trailer is included, then reference recall 20V201 when you call for service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V201000 |
|---|---|
| Vac-Tron customer service | 1-888-822-8766 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V201 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V201000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →