Recall 23V008 covers 31 2013-2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel trailers with misplaced taillights and rear guard defects. Free repair at a Mcelrath Trailers dealer.
Mcelrath Trailers is recalling 31 2013-2023 VX75 Xcel vacuum excavator trailers because the rear impact guard places the taillights incorrectly and does not meet rear impact protection rules. Incorrect taillight placement reduces trailer visibility and increases crash risk; during a crash, the guard problem also raises injury risk if another vehicle travels under the trailer, and Mcelrath Trailers dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear impact guard on a 2013-2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel is the metal structure across the back of the trailer. Its job is to help manage a rear impact by limiting how far a striking vehicle can travel under the trailer. The taillights also have a safety job: they make the trailer visible from required angles and show its position to traffic behind it.
On affected trailers, the custom rear guard design puts the taillights in the wrong location and limits their visibility. The same rear guard design does not meet the required rear impact protection design. Mcelrath Trailers built these VX75 Xcel trailers to a Vermeer MV Solutions design, and that design created the lighting and rear guard noncompliance.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner sitting in the tow vehicle will not see that the rear lights are blocked from required viewing angles or that the rear guard design is wrong.
Who's affected?
The scope combines tail light and body-structure items on the same VX75 Xcel trailer line.
| 2018 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
|---|---|
| 2022 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2022 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2016 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2015 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2015 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2016 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2020 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2020 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2019 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2019 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2014 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2014 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2021 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2021 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2013 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2013 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2017 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| 2017 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | Tail lights |
| 2018 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel | body structure |
| Units affected | 31 |
| 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?
Incorrect taillight placement can make the trailer harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk. In a crash, a vehicle traveling under the rear of the trailer raises injury risk. Schedule the dealer work promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Mcelrath Trailers dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mcelrath Trailers dealer to schedule the free repair that repositions the taillights and modifies the rear impact guard.
- Bring the recall notice if Mcelrath Trailers mailed one. If not, reference recall number 23V008 when you call.
- Avoid towing the trailer until the repair is complete if the taillights are hard to see or the rear impact guard has not been modified.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mcelrath Trailers technician repositions the taillights so they sit in the correct location, then modifies the rear impact guard covered by the recall. The work addresses both the lighting noncompliance and the guard design problem described in the filing. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered through the field remedy kit supplied for authorized dealers.
Timeline
| January 13, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| March 6, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 6, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 17, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 30, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V008?
Recall 23V008 covers 31 2013-2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel vacuum excavator trailers with taillights placed incorrectly and a rear impact guard that does not meet federal safety requirements. Dealers will reposition the taillights and modify the rear impact guard for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2023 Mcelrath Trailers VX75 Xcel is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 23V008. If it is, contact a dealer that handles Mcelrath Trailers service to schedule the taillight repositioning and rear impact guard modification. Reference recall number 23V008 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Gratimax says dealers will reposition the taillights and modify the rear impact guard free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included trailers.
What is the safety risk?
The misplaced taillights can make the trailer less visible, increasing crash risk. The rear impact guard also fails to prevent a vehicle from traveling under the trailer during a rear impact crash, increasing injury risk. The repair fixes both the lighting position and the guard.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V008000 |
|---|---|
| Mcelrath Trailers customer service | 1-864-814-2220 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V008 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V008000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →