October 2023 Recall Roundup: Altec, Mack, Ram, & More

More than a dozen recalls involving popular fleet vehicle models and tire types have been announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration throughout the month of October. Government Fleet has a roundup of the latest recalls.

Altec Trucks: Unexpected Turntable Rotation from Gearbox Failure & Load May Fall Due to Incorrect Winch Holding Valve

Altec is recalling certain 2023 DC and DM Digger Derricks. The turntable rotation gearbox may fail at high loads due to a defect in the brake flange casing. Gearbox failure may result in an unexpected turntable rotation, increasing the risk of injury.

Altec will work with the gearbox supplier to test and replace the gearbox, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 15, 2023. 

Altec is also recalling certain 2004-2023 DL42 and DL45 Digger Derricks.

The incorrect hydraulic load holding valve may have been installed, which can cause the winch to lower uncontrollably and the load to fall. That can increase the risk of injury to personnel or others nearby.

Altec will replace the load holding valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed Oct. 6, 2023.

Autocar Trucks: Steering Column Shaft Pinch Bolt Not Secured

Autocar is recalling certain 2022-2023 Xpeditor vehicles. The steering column shaft pinch bolt may not have been properly secured. An improperly secured steering column shaft pinch bolt can cause a sudden loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the steering column shaft pinch bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 24, 2023.

Brightdrop Vans: Roof Rail Air Bag May Not Deploy Correctly

General Motors is recalling certain 2023-2024 Brightdrop Zevo 600 vehicles equipped with an optional passenger jump seat. An incorrect passenger-side upper B-pillar trim panel may have been installed, which can interfere with proper deployment of the right-side roof-rail air bag. The recall affects an estimated 234 vans.

Dealers will inspect and replace the right-side B-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 27, 2023.

Continental Tires: Tires Contain Metal Fragments

Continental is recalling certain CrossContact LX25 tires in the following size:

• 235/55R18 100H.
• 225/65R17 102H.

The tires may contain rubber compound contaminated with small metal fragments. Metal contaminants in the tire sidewalls can cause a sudden loss of air pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the tires, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 27, 2023.

Diamond C Trailers: Spare Tire Winch System May Fail

Diamond C is recalling certain 2023-2024 FMAX, SDX, and PX trailers equipped with a spare tire winch. The winch system that secures the spare tire to the trailer may loosen or fail over time. That can result in the tire detaching from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will install a secondary retention device in the form of a steel bar and latch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed Oct. 30, 2023.

Ford SUVs: Rearview Camera Image May Not Display

Ford is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with a standard rearview camera. Due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness, the rearview camera may display a blue image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 6, 2023. 

Earlier in October, Ford also recalled over 238,000 Explorers and PIUs over a vehicle rollaway concern. Government Fleet previously reported that the recall affects several powertrains including the FHEV and gas-powered PIUs, in addition to several other powertrains.

Ford Trucks: Inoperative Defrosting/Defogging System

Ford is also recalling certain 2023 F-150 Lightning pickup trucks. The electronic cabin coolant heater module may be missing a solder joint, which can cause intermittent or no cabin heat and result in an inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system.

An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the electronic cabin coolant heater, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 6, 2023.

Ford Mach-Es: High Voltage Battery Contactor May Overheat

Ford is also recalling certain 2021-2022 Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with an extended range battery. The high voltage battery main contactors may overheat. The recall affects an estimated 34,000+ vehicles.

Dealers will replace the high voltage battery junction box, free of charge. Owner notification letters were expected to be mailed Oct. 30, 2023.

In most cases, the software on the vehicles that previously received the remedy to another recall will proactively detect damage to the contactors and display a warning to the user. However, the recall still includes those vehicles.

GM SUVs: Improperly Heat-Treated Suspension Bolts

General Motors is recalling certain 2023 vehicle models, including:

• Chevrolet Suburban.
• Chevrolet Tahoe.
• GMC Yukon.
• GMC Yukon XL.

The rear suspension outer control arm bolts may not have been properly heat-treated, which can cause the bolts to break. A broken suspension bolt can result in misalignment of the rear wheel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace both rear suspension outer control arm bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 6, 2023.

Lightning eMotors Vans: Warning Light Malfunction 

Lightning eMotors is recalling certain van models because the instrument cluster may not include certain indicator warning lights including the "Brake," "Park," and "ABS" indicators during the light function check when the ignition is turned to the "on" (run) position.

The recall includes the following models:

• 2021-2022 FT3-40.
• 2021-2023 FT3-80.
• 2022-2023 FT3-120. 

Dealers will update the software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 1, 2023.

Mack Trucks: Inoperative Electronic Stability Control & Loose Steering Fastener May Fail

Mack is recalling certain 2024 Anthem and Pinnacle vehicles. A software programming error may cause the electronic stability control (ESC) to be inoperative.

Dealers will reprogram the control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 3, 2023.

Mack is also recalling certain 2024 LR vehicles. The fasteners that connect the power steering assist cylinder to steering arm may be loose or missing. The power steering assist cylinder may separate from the steering arm, causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect and tighten the steering gear fasteners and install a new cotter pin, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 15, 2023.

PACCAR Trucks: Delayed Trailer Brake Release & U-Bolt May Puncture Fuel Tank

PACCAR is recalling certain truck makes and models, including:

• 2021-2024 Kenworth T280.
• 2021-2024 Kenworth T380.
• 2020-2024 Kenworth T480.
• 2020-2024 Peterbilt 548.
• 2020-2024 Peterbilt 536.
• 2024 Peterbilt 537.

The recall is due to the possbility that the timing of the trailer brake release may be delayed, which can create instability to the trailer and increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will replace the fittings and hoses in the affected valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 20, 2023.

PACCAR is also recalling certain trucks because the U-bolts that attach the air tank to the chassis may contact the fuel tank and over time, wear a hole in the tank. The recall includes 2021-2024 Peterbilt 579 and 567 trucks.

Dealers will inspect and trim the U-bolts, and replace the fuel tank as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 24, 2023.

Ram Trucks: Rearview Image May Not Display

Ram is recalling over 270,000 trucks due to a radio software issue that may prevent the rearview image from displaying. The recall includes the following models:

• 2022-2023 Ram 1500.
• 2022-2023 Ram 3500 Cab Chassis with GVWR less than 10,000 lbs.
• 2022-2024 Ram 2500.

A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed Oct. 24, 2023. 

Terex Trucks: Aerial Device Mounting Bolts Improperly Tightened

Terex is recalling certain 2021-2023 TL48 trucks. The bolts used to mount the aerial device to the sub-base may not be tightened properly, which could result in bolt failure, allowing the aerial device to fall. An aerial device that falls increases the risk of injury.

Dealers will replace the mounting bolts and washers, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 17, 2023.

Volvo Trucks: Inoperative Electronic Stability Control & Loose Steering Fastener May Fail

Volvo Trucks is recalling certain 2024 Volvo VNL and VNR trucks. A software programming error may cause the electronic stability control (ESC) to be inoperative, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Dealers will reprogram the control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 3, 2023.

Volvo is also recalling certain 2024 VNL, VHD, and VNR trucks. The fastener that connects two steering components, the pitman arm and draglink, may be loose, which can cause the connection to fail and result in a loss of steering control.

Dealers will inspect and tighten the castle nuts and install new cotter pins, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 4, 2023.