Wabash recalls 900+ trailers for loose underride guard bolts

Wabash is recalling more than 900 model year 2027 van trailers produced between April 20 and June 5 because rear underride guard bolts may not meet federal safety standards. The supplier failed to tighten bumper tube bolts to updated torque specifications after Wabash changed the torque values to accommodate different metals in the rear impact guard manufacturing process. About half of the affected trailers are estimated to have the defect, which reduces the protection provided by the guard and causes non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements for rear impact guards. Wabash discovered the problem in late May when the bumper tube supplier submitted a deviation request. The torquing issue was corrected in production on June 6. The manufacturer reports no accidents or injuries related to the condition. Dealers will tighten the bolts at no charge to owners. Owner notification letters are expected to mail August 14. Wabash urges owners not to operate affected vehicles until the remedy is completed. Owners can contact Wabash customer service at 1-765-771-5404 for more information. Underide guard failures are a persistent safety concern in trucking. This recall underscores how manufacturing changes require careful coordination between trailer makers and suppliers to maintain compliance.