Missing Lamps and Reflective Tape – 2015-2019 Vac-Tron LP873SDT Heavy, Vacuum Excavator

June 11, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V442000

Missing Lamps and Reflective Tape

Due to the lack of lamps and insufficient reflective tape, the trailer may not be visible at night, increasing the risk of crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V442

Manufacturer Vac-Tron Equipment, LLC

Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Potential Number of Units Affected 208

 

Summary

Vac-Tron Equipment, LLC. (Vac-Tron) is recalling certain 2015-2019 LP873SDT Heavy, Vacuum Excavator-dual axle trailers. The trailer may lack front and rear lights, including clearance lamps, reflex reflectors, and side reflex reflectors. The trailers may also may have an insufficient amount of reflective tape on the sides and rear. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

 

Remedy

Vac-Tron will notify owners and dealers will move the marker lights to the compliant position, and install lower chassis extension, conspicuity tape, and reflectors, free of charge. The recall began August 1, 2019. Owners may contact Vac-Tron customer service at 1-888-822-8766.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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NHTSA is missing critical, required information for this safety recall. This information must be supplied through the NHTSA Recalls Portal within 5 working days of confirming its accuracy:

– A description of how the products to be recalled differ from similar products that are not included in the recall (49 CFR 573.6 (c)(2)).

– A statement that the defect or noncompliance can cause a vehicle crash. (49 CFR 577.5 (f)(1)).

– A description of the manufacturer’s program for remedying the defect or noncompliance (49 CFR 573.6 (c)(8)(i)).

– Your company’s program shall include a plan for reimbursing an owner or purchaser who incurred costs to obtain a remedy for the problem addressed by the recall within a reasonable time in advance of your company’s notification of owners, purchasers and dealers, in accordance with § 573.13 of this part. Your company’s plan may incorporate by reference a general reimbursement plan it previously submitted to NHTSA, together with information specific to the individual recall. Information required by § 573.13 that is not in a general reimbursement plan shall be submitted in your company’s report to NHTSA under this section. If your company submits one or more general reimbursement plans, your company shall update each plan every two years, in accordance with § 573.13. Your company’s remedy program and reimbursement plans will be available for inspection by the public at NHTSA headquarters (49 CFR 573.6 (c)(8)(i)). If the vehicles are new and would be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty program, please state that in the remedy section of your filing.

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NHTSA SAFETY RECALL NUMBER 19V-442

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY  RECALL First Notice Safety Enhancement Kit (VVK00-0001)

 

Model:   «Model» This notice applies to your vehicle, Serial No:  «VIN»

 

August 8, 2019

VIA USPS CERTIFIED/REGISTERED MAIL

 

Dear «MODEL» Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

VacTron Equipment LLC has decided that a defect, that relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain model year 2015-2019 VacTron LP873SDT/LPSDT Heavy.

 

ON-HIGHWAY SAFETY COMPONENT ENHANCEMENTS

As you know, Vermeer recently acquired Vac-Tron Equipment, LLC. As part of the acquisition, Vermeer assisted Vac-Tron in reevaluating the design of Model LP873SDT/LPSDT heavy vacuum excavator. The design reevaluation identified required upgrades to the on-highway safety components, including adding or changing marker lights, reflectors, conspicuity tape and adding an extension to the rear of the chassis. These upgrades are required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) governmental regulation 108 and 224 for the United States, Canada and Mexico.

 

DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY POSSIBLE

When towing the vacuum excavator on public roadways, death or serious injury may result:

• If another vehicle strikes the rear of the vacuum excavator causing the other vehicle to travel under the rear of the vacuum excavator. To reduce the potential of this occurring, a rear chassis extension is being added.
• If driver(s) of other vehicle(s) do not see the vacuum excavator at night or during limited sunlight and strike the vacuum excavator. To reduce the potential of this occurring, additional marking lights, reflectors and conspicuity tape are being added.

Property or equipment damage may also occur.

 

IMMEDIATE MACHINE MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED

VVK00-0001 has been created to provide the necessary parts and instructions to install marker lights, reflectors, conspicuity tape and a lower chassis extension on the rear of the machine. This kit must be installed as soon as possible. 

As stated above a new rear extension will be added to the vacuum excavators. Care has been given in the design of this new trailer extension to ensure that it does not interfere with the operation of the opening the door before dumping. Below is an excerpt from the vacuum excavator’s Operator’s Manual which provides steps for proper operation. When discussing this upgrade with your customer, please ensure that they understand the proper operation, so the door does not strike the trailer extension. 

Please be reminded that it is a violation of Federal law for you to sell or lease the machines covered by this notification until this recall has been performed on these machines. Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.

Please contact your authorized, independent Vermeer dealer immediately to arrange a mutually acceptable time and location to install VVK00-0001 at no cost to you for labor or materials. The installation of this kit is estimated at 4 hours of labor.  If the Vermeer dealer travels to the unit to install the kit, costs may be incurred by the owner. You must have your machine upgraded for these safety features.

Contact your local Vermeer Dealer:

«Service_Dealer_Name»
«Serv_Dealer_Add1» «Serv_Dealer_Add2»
«Serv_Dealer_City» «Serv_Dealer_St» «Serv_Dealer_Zip»
«Serv_Dealer_Country»

Telephone:

«Serv_Dealer_Phone»

 

According to our records, you currently own a VacTron LP873SDT/LPSDT heavy vacuum excavator. The Model and Serial Number of the LP873SDT/LPSDT heavy  is shown at the top right of this letter.  If you no longer own this unit, please notify VacTron by notifying Vermeer Corporation’s Product Safety Department at:

Toll Free:          800-829-0051, extension 7060
Telephone:        641-621-7060
E-mail:              productsafety@vermeer.com

If possible, please provide the name and address of the new owner.

 

We regret any inconvenience that these corrective measures may cause you. The required work is for the safety of the towing vehicle driver and occupants as well as others traveling on public roadways or in the immediate area while being towed. We hope that you agree that the safety benefits surpass the inconvenience.

 

Very truly yours,

VACTRON EQUIPMENT LLC

 

Federal regulations require that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten (10) days.

 

If the authorized dealer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge and within a reasonable time, contact VacTron through Vermeer Product Safety by email at productsafety@vermeer.com or by calling 800-829-0051 or 641-621-7060. You may also submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov

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5 Affected Products

Vehicle

VAC-TRON

LP 873 SD

2015-2019

 

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9 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V442-1939.pdf 245.809KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V442-9628.PDF 212.496KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document

RMISC-19V442-8398.PDF 1487.126KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document- Proposed changes to LP873SDT Heavy

RMISC-19V442-4305.PDF 1494.534KB

 

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Recall 573 Report- Amendment 1

RCLRPT-19V442-7592.PDF 213.637KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V442-7591.PDF 211.233KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19V442-9029.PDF 211.133KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V442-8657.docx 353.359KB

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-1

RCLQRT-19V442-8181.PDF 211.322KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V442&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-05-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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