December 2023 Recall Roundup: Big Tex, Ford, Ram, Spartan, & More

As the year comes to a close, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has announced several recalls of popular public sector fleet vehicles.

Government Fleet has a roundup of those recalls.

Altec Trucks: Misaligned Welder May Detach from Vehicle

Altec is recalling certain 2021-2023 CB5-132D-S vehicles equipped with a Bobcat 260 welder installed on a track system. The welder may be misaligned, preventing the mounting fasteners from being properly tightened.

Altec will align the welder and tighten the fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Feb. 02, 2024. 

Big Tex Trailers: Tire Sidewall Separation

Big Tex Trailer is recalling certain 2024 trailers with defective Goodride ST 200 tires. The sidewall of the tires may experience bubbling and separate, causing a loss of tire pressure, which can increase the risk of a crash.

The recall includes the following 2024 models: 

• 10ET, 10LX, 10OA, 10PI, 10SR.
• 12SR.
• 14DF, 14EE, 14EH, 14EHG, 14ET, 14FT, 14GN,
  14GP, 14GT, 14GX, 14LD, 14LP, 14OA, 14OD,
  14OT, 14PH, 14PI, 14RB, 14RD, 14TD, 14TL.
• 20GN.
• 22GN, 22PH.
• 25GN, 25PH.
• 70ST.
• TT14.

No remedy has been established at this time. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 12, 2024.

Chevrolet Bolts: Fire Risk after Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment

General Motors is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EVs. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.

Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed.

Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 29, 2024. These vehicles were previously recalled for this same issue and will need to have the new remedy performed.

Chevrolet Trucks: Loose Seat Belt Buckle Attachment Bolt

General Motors is recalling certain 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV trucks, because the left or right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts may not be tightened properly. This could cause the seat belt buckle to fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

The recall also affects certain 2023-2024 GMC Hummer EV pick-ups and 2024 GMC Hummer EV SUVs.

Dealers will tighten the left and right front seat belt buckle attachment bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 8, 2024.

Daimler Vans: Windows and Interior Lashing Rail Cargo May Detach, & Loss of Steering Control from Unsecured Strut Bolt

Daimler Vans is recalling certain 2021-2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and 2021 Freightliner Sprinter vans. The topcoat paint formula may cause the windows and interior lashing rails to be insufficiently bonded to the vehicle. An insufficiently bonded window can detach during a crash, and objects secured to an insufficiently bonded interior lashing rail can detach, increasing the risk of injury.

Dealers will inspect the paint adhesion and repair it as necessary, free of charge. Depending on the extent of any damage, Daimler Vans may offer to repurchase the vehicle. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan.19, 2024.

Daimler Vans is also recalling certain 2023 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans for another potential hazard. The front left suspension strut bolt may not be secured properly, which can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect the front left suspension strut bolt connection and repair the body contact surface as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Feb. 9, 2024. 

Ford Trucks: Deactivated Electronic Stability Control, Parking Lights May Flicker, & Missing Warning for Turn Signal Failure

Ford is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning trucks. The SYNC software may fail to activate the electronic stability control (ESC) system at the beginning of each ignition cycle.

The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed Dec. 18, 2023.

Additionally, Ford is recalling certain 2022-2024 Maverick trucks. In the event that one of the rear turn signals stops working, the vehicle will not adjust the turn signal flash rate frequency to warn the driver that a turn signal is not working correctly.

Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 2, 2024.

Ford is also recalling certain 2022 F-150 trucks. The parking lights may flicker when the headlights are activated, which can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will update the LED driver module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan.14, 2024.

Kovatch, Spartan, & Ferrara Fire Trucks: Overloaded Electrical System May Cause Fire

The makers of several fire apparatus models are recalling certain vehicles due to the possibility of a short circuit or wiring failure, which could lead the firmware in the vehicle multiplex system to fail to shut off the outpit pin, resulting in overloaded electrical circuits. That could lead to a fire.

Ferrara is recalling: 

• 2018-2020 Inferno Aerial Fire Apparatus.

Kovatch Mobile Equipment is recalling:

• 2020 Severe Service Aerial Fire Apparatus.

Spartan is recalling:

• 2020-2022 Spartan Fire S-180 Pumper Fire Apparatus.
• 2021 KME Pumper Fire Apparatus.
• 2020 Spartan Fire Ladder Tower Aerial Fire Apparatus.
• 2020-2022 KME Aerial Fire Apparatus.
• 2022-2023 Smeal Aerial Fire Apparatus.

Dealers from all three OEMs will work with the equipment manufacturer to update the firmware, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 15, 2024.

Mack Trucks: Delay Returning to Engine Idle

Mack is recalling certain 2023-2024 GR, AN, LR, and Terrapro trucks. The engine may not return to idle within 2 seconds if the accelerator pedal position sensor becomes disconnected. An engine that does not return to idle quickly enough can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Mack will replace throttle pedal and update software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 21, 2024. 

Pierce Fire Trucks: Improperly Secured Electrical Connector

Pierce Manufacturing is recalling certain 2019-2023 Arrow XT, Enforcer, and Velocity mid-mount tower trucks equipped with an aerial platform basket. The electrical connector to the aerial turntable wiring harness may not be properly secured, which can result in connector corrosion and affect the leveling ability of the platform basket.

Pierce will replace the aerial turntable wiring harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed Dec. 14, 2023.

Pratt Chassis: Mid-Beam on Trailer Chassis May Crack

Pratt is recalling certain 2022-2023 GN30402-EC-6P container chassis trailers. When the chassis is in the 20-ft. configuration, the mid-beam of the chassis may bend or crack when fully loaded or when the 20-ft. container is overloaded.

The chassis mid-beam will be inspected for cracks and if no cracks are found, modified to be used in the 40-ft. position. If cracks are found, the trailer cannot be used. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed Nov. 30, 2023.

Ram Trucks: Turn Signal and High Beam Malfunction

Chrysler is recalling certain trucks due to a potential issue with the steering column control module. It may cause the high beams to activate when the turn signal is used or activate the turn signal when the high beams are used. In addition, the turn signal self-canceling feature may not function properly.

The recall includes:

• 2023 Ram 1500 Classic.
• 2023 Ram 3500 Classic.
• 2023 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis.
• 2023-2024 Ram 2500.
• 2023-2024 4500/5500 Cab Chassis.
• 2023-2024 Ram 3500.

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering column control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 17, 2024.

Rivian Trucks: Deactivated Defroster and Defogger System Controls

Rivian is recalling certain 2022-2023 R1T trucks. A software update may have deactivated the defroster and defogger system, which can decrease the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash. The recall also includes R1S SUVs.

Rivian released an over-the-air software update, so the vehicles do not need to be taken to a dealer. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 11, 2024. 

Tesla EVs: Doors Can Be Unlocked During a Crash

Tesla is recalling certain 2021-2023 Model S vehicles. The cabin doors can be unlocked during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The recall also includes Model X vehicles.

Tesla has released an over-the-air software update, so owners do not need to bring their vehicles to a dealer for repair. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Feb. 17, 2024. 

Xos Step Vans: Electronic Parking Brake May Fail

Xos is recalling certain 2021-2022 SV05 vehicles because the electronic parking brake may malfunction or fail to engage without warning to the driver.

Dealers will replace the electronic parking brake controller system, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 4, 2024.