June Recall Roundup: Altec, Knapheide, Peterbilt, & More

Fleet managers, check your vehicles! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced several recalls in the month of June that impact vehicles common in government fleets. Here's a roundup of some of the recalls.

Altec Aerial Devices: Load-Holding Feature May Fail

Altec Industries is recalling certain 1999-2022 L Series and LR Series aerial devices. A hydraulic hose may have been installed between the cylinder port and load-holding valve instead of metallic tubing, which can result in a damaged hydraulic hose and failure of the load-holding feature, as well as an injury.

Altec will inspect the units for a hydraulic hose and replace it with specified metallic tubing, as necessary, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 11.

Altec Trailers: U-Bolt Hardware Not Tightened Properly

Altec Industries is also recalling certain 2022-2023 TG-124S trailers. The axle U-bolts that secure the leaf springs may not be tightened properly, which can cause the U-bolts to loosen and detach from the axle and suspension, increasing the risk of a crash.

Altec will inspect and tighten the U-bolt nuts, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 4, 2023. 

Ford Trucks: Rear Lightbar May be Inoperative

Ford is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150 Lightning BEVs. The rear lightbar may have microcracks in the outer lens that allows moisture to accumulate, which can result in inoperative or flickering reverse lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the rear lightbar, free of charge.

Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed June 26.

Earlier this month, Ford also issued a recall for certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil, and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire. Read more about the recall here.

Knapheide Ford, GM, and Ram Trucks: Corrosion on Remote Control Circuit Board

Knapheide Manufacturing Company is recalling certain pickup trucks equipped with certain Warn Industries VR EVO winches with a wireless handheld remote. Water may enter the handheld remote control for the winch and cause circuit board corrosion, which can allow the winch to operate unintentionally.

The trucks included in the recall are:

• 2022 Ford F-250, F-350, and F-550.
• 2022-2023 GM 2500HD.
• 2023 GM 3500.
• 2022 RAM 3500.

Knapheide will work with Warn Industries, Inc. to provide owners instructions on how to inspect the remote for corrosion and disable the wireless function by removing the battery pack from the remote.

If corrosion or water intrusion is found when removing the battery pack, owners should stop using the remote and contact WARN customer service for a replacement remote, free of charge. Once new parts are available, WARN will make a replacement water resistant remote available, free of charge. 

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30.

Paccar Trucks: Alternator Positive Cable May Chafe and Cause Fire

PACCAR is recalling certain 2022-2023 Peterbilt 579 vehicles equipped with MX-13 engines and 160-amp alternators. A fastener on the front spring bracket may have been installed with the head on the outside of the frame rail, which can chafe and damage the alternator positive cable.

Dealers will replace the frame fastener and secure the alternator cable, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 11.

Ram Trucks: Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure

Chrysler is recalling certain 2014-2019 Ram 1500 vehicles equipped with 3.0L Diesel engines. The crankshaft position sensor tone wheel may delaminate, causing the engine to lose its ability to synchronize the fuel injector pulses and cam shaft timing, possibly resulting in an engine stall.

Dealers will update the powertrain control module software to maintain vehicle propulsion, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 28.

Stoughton Chassis: Improperly Tightened Wheel Lug Nuts

Stoughton Trailers is recalling certain 2023-2024 Intermodal container chassis. The wheel lug nuts are improperly tightened.

Stoughton will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, as necessary, free of charge.

Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed June 26.