Recall 20V508 affects 134 2015-2020 Vac-Tron vehicles missing required clearance lamps and reflectors. Repair is free at any franchised Vac-Tron dealer.
Vac-Tron is recalling 134 2015-2020 HTV 573 PTO, HTV 873 PTO, HTV 373 PTO, and JTV 873 PTO vehicles under recall 20V508 because they were built without side and rear clearance lamps and reflectors. Without those lights and reflectors, the vehicles are harder to see and the risk of a crash goes up. Vac-Tron dealers will install the missing equipment for free.
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What's wrong?
Clearance lamps and reflex reflectors are the small marker lights and reflective panels mounted along the sides and rear of a large truck. Their job is simple but important: they outline the full size and shape of the vehicle to drivers behind and beside it, especially at night or in poor weather. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 requires them on trucks of this size so other road users can judge width, length, and position from a distance.
On the affected Vac-Tron HTV and JTV PTO trucks built between 2015 and 2020, those side clearance lamps, rear clearance lamps, and side and rear reflex reflectors were never installed during manufacturing. The trucks left the factory without the lighting and reflective hardware the standard requires. Vermeer identified the gap during a compliance review after acquiring Vac-Tron.
There is no warning sign before failure. The lighting was missing from the day the truck was built, and a driver behind or alongside one of these trucks has less visual information about its size and position than the standard intends, particularly in low light.
Who's affected?
Covers four Vac-Tron PTO trailer models (HTV 373, HTV 573, HTV 873, JTV 873) built across six model years, all fitted with the same tail-light assembly.
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
|---|---|
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2015 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2016 Vac-Tron Htv 373 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2020 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Jtv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2018 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 873 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2017 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Tail lights |
| 2019 Vac-Tron Htv 573 Pto | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 134 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific trailer is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
Missing clearance lights and reflectors make the vehicle harder to see, especially in low light, which raises the risk of a crash with other road users. Treat the unit as low-visibility until the kit is installed: avoid roadside work after dusk when possible, and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Vac-Tron dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2020 Vac-Tron HTV or JTV unit is included in this recall.
- Contact an authorized Vermeer dealer to schedule installation of the free field remedy kit that adds the missing clearance lamps and reflectors.
- Reference recall number 20V508 (Vac-Tron recall VVK0011) when you call the dealer so they can pull the correct kit.
- Call Vac-Tron customer service at 1-352-728-2222 with questions about the kit, parts availability, or scheduling.
- Avoid operating the equipment on public roads in low light or poor visibility until the clearance lamps and reflectors are installed.
What happens at the repair
At an authorized Vermeer dealer, a technician installs a Vac-Tron field remedy kit that adds the missing side clearance lamps, rear clearance lamps, and side and rear reflectors required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The kit includes the parts and instructions needed to bring the vehicle into compliance. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. If you previously paid out of pocket to add these lamps or reflectors, contact Vac-Tron customer service at 1-352-728-2222 and reference recall VVK0011 to ask about reimbursement and bring your documentation when you visit the dealer.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 27, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 13, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| October 13, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 13, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 27, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 27, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V508?
Recall 20V508 covers 134 2015-2020 Vac-Tron HTV373PTO, HTV573PTO, HTV873PTO, and JTV873PTO units that were built without side clearance lamps, rear clearance lamps, and side or rear reflectors. The missing lighting and reflectors make the vehicle harder to see, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2015-2020 Vac-Tron HTV or JTV unit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific unit is included in recall 20V508. If it is, contact an authorized Vermeer dealer to schedule installation of the field remedy kit that adds the missing clearance lamps and reflectors. Reference recall number 20V508 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost. Vac-Tron is supplying field remedy kits with the parts and instructions, and authorized Vermeer dealers will install them free of charge regardless of where the unit was originally purchased.
What is the safety risk on a Vac-Tron unit without clearance lamps and reflectors?
Without side and rear clearance lamps and reflectors, the unit is harder for other drivers to see, especially in low light or at night. That visibility gap increases the chance of a crash. Installing the field remedy kit brings the unit into compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108.
What if I bought my Vac-Tron unit used?
The free repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor the recall regardless of ownership history. If Vac-Tron never mailed you a notice, check your VIN to confirm your unit is included in recall 20V508, and reference that number when you call an authorized Vermeer dealer or Vac-Tron customer service at 1-352-728-2222.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V508000 |
|---|---|
| Vac-Tron customer service | 1-352-728-2222 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V508 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V508000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →