Recall 20V551 affects 218 2019-2021 Wabash National Van trailers for loose aerodynamic skirts. Repair is free at any franchised Wabash National dealer.
Wabash National is recalling 218 2019-2021 Van trailers with flat bottom floors and aerodynamic skirts because the skirt attachments can come loose. If a skirt detaches while the trailer is moving, crash or injury risk increases, and a Wabash National dealer will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The safety tether on affected 2019-2021 Wabash National Van trailers is the secondary attachment for the aerodynamic skirt mounted along the lower side of the trailer. The skirt helps smooth airflow, but it still has to stay secured to the trailer body through vibration, road spray, loading cycles, and normal highway use. The tether assembly is there as a backup attachment if the skirt hardware loosens.
On these flat bottom floor trailers, clearance between the tether bracket and the floor is reduced. That tight fit puts stress on the fastener that holds the tether to the trailer, and Wabash National found wear on the tether bolts during inspections. If the tether fastener wears enough or is missing, the secondary attachment no longer does its job and the aerodynamic skirt can come loose.
There is no warning sign before failure. The repaired tether assembly has a spacer plate installed, which gives service personnel a visible way to tell the updated assembly is in place.
Who's affected?
The 2019, 2020, and 2021 Van trailers all use the same safety tether assembly, part 21801280.
| 2019 Wabash National Van | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2021 Wabash National Van | Equipment |
| 2020 Wabash National Van | Equipment |
| Units affected | 218 |
| 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?
An aerodynamic skirt that detaches while the trailer is moving increases the risk of a crash or injury. There is no warning sign before this condition, so confirm the VIN and schedule service soon if this trailer is included. Repair is free at any franchised Wabash National dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2021 Wabash National Van trailer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Wabash National dealer to schedule the free safety-tether rework that keeps the aerodynamic skirt attached.
- Bring the recall notice if Wabash National mailed one. If not, reference recall number 20V551 when you call.
- Call Wabash National customer service at 765-771-5404 with questions and reference Wabash National recall B20012.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the dealer checks it if an aerodynamic skirt is loose or damaged.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Wabash National technician reworks the safety tether assembly so the aerodynamic skirt stays attached to the Van trailer. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you already paid for a skirt or safety tether repair tied to this issue before the recall notice, Wabash National's general reimbursement plan is the path for a claim. Keep your repair paperwork and contact Wabash National customer service to ask how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 10, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 21, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 8, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| November 8, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 8, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V551?
Recall 20V551 covers 218 2019-2021 Wabash National Van trailers with flat bottom floors and aerodynamic skirts. The skirt can come loose while the trailer is moving, which raises the risk of a crash or injury. Wabash National dealers will rework the safety tether assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2021 Wabash National Van is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 20V551. If it is, contact a franchised Wabash National dealer to schedule the safety tether assembly rework. Reference recall number 20V551 or Wabash National recall B20012 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Wabash National dealers will rework the safety tether assembly to keep the aerodynamic skirt attached, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that an aerodynamic skirt can detach while the trailer is moving. A loose or detached skirt can create a road hazard and raise the risk of a crash or injury. The repair secures the skirt with a reworked safety tether assembly.
When did Wabash National start this recall repair?
Wabash National began the recall repair on September 21, 2020. Owners were notified, and dealers were instructed to rework the safety tether assembly free of charge. For recall questions, Wabash National customer service is listed at 765-771-5404.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V551000 |
|---|---|
| Wabash National customer service | 765-771-5404 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V551 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V551000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →