Hearth Record

Structure: body: hood (Utilimaster)

Vehicle recall 97V-027. NHTSA received UTILIMASTER CORPORATION’s report on Feb 22, 1997.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received UTILIMASTER CORPORATION’s report on Feb 22, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

IF BOTH TIE DOWNS COME LOOSE, THE HOOD CAN SEPARATE DURING VEHICLE OPERATION LEADING TO A POSSIBLE BROKEN WINDSHIELD AND/OR BLOCKING OF THE DRIVER’S VISION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH..

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, THE FORCE OF THE WIND AGAINST THE HOOD CAN FORCE THE HOOD BEHIND THE BUMPER ALLOWING THE HOOD TO DROP.

THIS REDUCES THE TENSION ON THE TWO RUBBER HOLD-DOWNS WHICH THEN BECOME LOOSE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Structure: body: hood.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL ADD A METAL BRACKET AND A SECOND BUMPER ABOVE AND BEHIND THE ORIGINAL BUMPER SO THAT THE HOOD CANNOT BE PUSHED OR SLIP BEHIND THE ORIGINAL (BOTTOM) BUMPER.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 18, 1997. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT UTILIMASTER AT 1-800-582-3454.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 3,132 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Utilimaster Walk-in Vanand 1996 and 1997, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by UTILIMASTER CORPORATION.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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