Recall 26V465 affects 11 2027 Great Dane Champion trailers missing rear impact guard channels. Repair will be free at Great Dane dealers once available.
Great Dane is recalling 11 2027 Champion dry van trailers because rear impact guard extension channels were not installed. Without those channels, the rear impact guard is not properly installed and can increase injury risk in a crash; the dealer repair will be free once Great Dane makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The rear impact guard on a 2027 Great Dane Champion dry van trailer is the rear underride protection bar at the back of the trailer. Its job is to sit close enough to the trailer's rear edge to help block another vehicle from riding under the trailer in a rear impact. Extension channels position that guard correctly when a rail-type liftgate is installed.
On the affected Champion trailers, Great Dane installed rail-type liftgates but left out the rear impact guard extension channels. Without those channels, the rear face of the guard sits more than 12 inches forward of the rearmost part of the trailer. That placement does not meet the rear impact protection rule, so the guard is not in the required position until the omitted channels are installed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is missing hardware, not a wear problem, so an owner will not feel a change while towing or see a dashboard alert.
Who's affected?
| 2027 Great Dane Champion | body structure |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 11 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific trailer.
What's the safety risk?
A rear impact guard that is not properly installed can increase injury risk during a crash. Use the RecallNotify VIN check to confirm whether your Champion is included, then arrange service when the repair opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Great Dane dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2027 Great Dane Champion is included in this recall.
- Watch for Great Dane's owner notification letter, expected September 15, 2026.
- Contact a franchised Great Dane dealer after the repair campaign opens to schedule the free rear impact guard extension-channel installation.
- Bring the recall notice if Great Dane has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 26V465 when you call.
- Limit trips with the trailer until the repair is complete, since the missing rear impact guard channels can increase injury risk in a crash.
What happens at the repair
Great Dane has identified the dealer repair, but the final remedy is not listed as available now. Once the repair opens, a Great Dane technician will install the missing rear impact guard extension channels on the trailer. That adds the rear impact protection hardware that was left off during production. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. When owner letters go out, use the campaign notice when you contact a Great Dane dealer or Great Dane customer service.
Timeline
| July 17, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 15, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| September 15, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V465?
Recall 26V465 covers 11 2027 Great Dane Champion dry van trailers produced without rear impact guard extension channels, which means they fail FMVSS 224 for rear impact protection. Great Dane dealers will install the missing extension channels free of charge.
What should I do if my 2027 Great Dane Champion is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific trailer is included in recall 26V465. If it is, contact a Great Dane dealer to schedule installation of the rear impact guard extension channels. Great Dane expects to mail owner letters on September 15, 2026.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and Great Dane's remedy says dealers will install the rear impact guard extension channels free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is higher injury exposure in a crash. The affected trailers were produced without rear impact guard extension channels, so the rear impact guard is not installed as required under FMVSS 224. Great Dane dealers will install the missing channels free of charge.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V465000 |
|---|---|
| Great Dane customer service | 1-877-369-3493 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V465 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V465000 |
Source documents
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 →