Recall 26V440 affects 563 2016, 2019, 2021 Utilimaster Velocity vehicles for strobe-light water intrusion. Repair will be free at any franchised Utilimaster dealer once available.
Utilimaster is recalling 563 2016, 2019, 2021 Velocity vehicles because water can enter an improperly sealed strobe light and cause a short circuit. An electrical short increases the risk of a fire, and the dealer repair will be free once Utilimaster makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The auxiliary strobe lamp on 2016, 2019, and 2021 Utilimaster Velocity vehicles is an exterior warning light. It flashes to make the vehicle more visible while it is working, stopped, or operating around traffic. The lamp also has wires entering the back of its housing, and those wires need a tight seal to keep water out.
On affected Velocity vehicles, the seal between the potting material and the wires was not made correctly. Potting material is the hardened sealant around the wire opening. Gaps around that seal let water reach electrical parts inside the strobe lamp. Once water gets in, electricity can follow the wrong path, creating a short circuit that overheats wires or the lamp itself.
There is no warning sign before a thermal event or fire. The source record says the condition can happen without warning, so owners should treat damaged, melted, or nonworking strobe lamps as a dealer issue, not as a normal lighting repair.
Who's affected?
Covers three Velocity model years, all tied to the same auxiliary strobe-lamp issue.
| 2019 Utilimaster Velocity | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2021 Utilimaster Velocity | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Utilimaster Velocity | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 563 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
An electrical short increases the risk of a fire. The filing lists no warning before a thermal event or fire, so follow Utilimaster's interim instruction to remove the strobe-light control module and schedule service once the remedy opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Utilimaster dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016, 2019, 2021 Utilimaster Velocity is included in this recall.
- Follow Utilimaster's interim instruction to remove the strobe-light control module until the final repair is ready.
- Avoid using the affected strobe light until the short-circuit risk is addressed.
- Watch for Utilimaster's next owner notice with the final remedy instructions.
- Call Utilimaster customer service at 1-800-237-7806 with questions and reference recall number 26V440.
What happens at the repair
For now, Utilimaster advises owners to remove the control module for the strobe light, which disables the affected light circuit while the final remedy is still under development. Once the final dealer repair is available, parts and labor will be free under the recall. If you already paid for a related strobe light or short circuit repair before the recall notice, Shyft is using its general reimbursement plan on file. Bring repair documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 8, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 17, 2026 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V440?
Recall 26V440 covers 563 2016, 2019, and 2021 Utilimaster Velocity vehicles with an improperly sealed strobe light. Water intrusion can cause a short circuit, increasing fire risk. The final repair is still under development.
What should I do if my 2016, 2019, 2021 Utilimaster Velocity is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 26V440. If it is, remove the strobe light control module as Shyft advises, then contact a franchised Utilimaster dealer or Shyft customer service at 1-800-237-7806 for next steps.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost once the remedy is available. Shyft's final repair for recall 26V440 is still under development, and another notice will be sent when the repair opens.
Is it safe to drive my Utilimaster Velocity before the repair is ready?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive order. The listed risk is an electrical short in the strobe light system that increases fire risk. Follow Shyft's interim instruction to remove the strobe light control module while the final remedy is being developed.
When will owners be notified about recall 26V440?
Shyft mailed interim owner notification letters on July 17, 2026, explaining the safety risk. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Use Shyft recall number 26-06 when you contact customer service or the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V440000 |
|---|---|
| Utilimaster customer service | 1-800-237-7806 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V440 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V440000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on July 26, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →