NewsVanderhall Brawley Recall: Check VINs and Seat Belt Fix
A November federal recall covers Brawley GTS electric off-road vehicles with seat belts that can lock before an occupant can buckle up. Owners should check the VIN and arrange a no-cost repair.
This is a source-linked desk explainer, not first-hand reporting. Research and drafting may use AI-assisted tools. Follow the cited source links and read our editorial and corrections policy.
This is independent desk reporting based on official notices and independently published coverage, not a first-hand vehicle inspection. Research and drafting may use AI-assisted tools. See our editorial and corrections policy.
Representative licensed photo of an unrelated off-road vehicle, not the recalled Brawley GTS. Photo: Quang Nguyen Vinh / Pexels.
Which Brawley GTS model years and VINs are affected?
The notice covers Brawley GTS vehicles from model years 2024, 2025 and 2026. Owners can find the vehicle identification number (VIN) beneath the dashboard on the driver's side. The CPSC lists these VIN suffix ranges; the X characters represent the earlier, vehicle-specific VIN characters:
| Model year | VIN range shown in federal notice |
|---|---|
| 2024 | XXXXXXXXXXX005927–XXXXXXXXXXX005990 |
| 2025 | XXXXXXXXXXX005992–XXXXXXXXXXX006074 |
| 2026 | XXXXXXXXXXX006077–XXXXXXXXXXX006152 |
Match the complete VIN with the manufacturer or dealer rather than relying only on the color or year. The recalled vehicles were sold through Vanderhall dealers in Utah, Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arizona from April 2024 through June 2026, at approximately $50,000 each. The affected vehicles were manufactured in the United States.
What happens to the seat belt, and were injuries reported?
According to the federal notice, a seat belt can become permanently locked in the fully retracted position. If it cannot be extended, an occupant cannot put it on. That creates an injury or crash hazard if the vehicle is operated. Vanderhall reported 11 seat-belt lockup incidents and no injuries as of the November 5 announcement. The absence of reported injuries does not mean the affected vehicle is safe to drive.
How do owners obtain the free repair?
Stop using an affected Brawley GTS immediately. Contact an authorized Vanderhall dealer to arrange service. A technician will fit an insert into each seat's belt-guide slot to slow belt retraction and prevent the lockup, according to CPSC. The repair is free. Owners can use Vanderhall's dealer contact page, review its official safety notices or email inquiry@vanderhallusa.com. Keep the repair confirmation with the vehicle's service records.
Is this the same as the earlier Brawley software recall?
No. A separate August 6, 2026 CPSC recall concerned unexpected acceleration and a software remedy, affecting about 210 vehicles. The November action concerns seat-belt retractors, has a different recall number and calls for a physical dealer repair. Owners should ask the dealer to check both notices against their VIN; completing a software update does not establish that the seat-belt repair is complete.
What should a buyer or secondhand owner do next?
Before operating or purchasing a used Brawley GTS, ask for the VIN and proof that applicable safety remedies have been completed. Check the CPSC's official recall details and confirm directly with Vanderhall. The announcement is a repair recall, not a general refund offer. For another vehicle-related consumer safety guide, see our Vevor bicycle recall explainer, or browse U.S. consumer news.
Sources: CPSC recall 27-064 (November 5, 2026); RideApart independent coverage; CPSC earlier software recall (August 6, 2026). Verified November 12, 2026.