2015 Altec Digger Derrick problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (8)
Structure:frame And Members 2025-08-29 · campaign 25V562000 · 903 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2011-2025 Aerial Device, Digger Derrick, and 2022-2025 Service Body vehicles. The cable step wire rope assembly may be improperly secured, which can allow the cable entry step to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A cable step that fails during use increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will provide owners with instructions to inspect the cable crimps. If the cables are improperly crimped, Altec will provide instructions and a kit to replace the wire rope assemblies. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 24, 2025. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN-3246.
Equipment:mechanical:winch 2023-09-14 · campaign 23V636000 · 53 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is 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.
Risk: An uncontrolled load falling increases the risk of injury to personnel or others nearby.
Fix: Altec will replace the load holding valve, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 6, 2023. Owners may contact Altec's customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is MAB 3113.
Equipment:other:labels 2019-05-13 · campaign 19V365000 · 1,036 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2009-2019 DL/DM, DL/DMB, DH, D/2/3/4, and DC Digger Derrick vehicles. The slope indicator placard card may falsely indicate that the unit could be used without leveling on a 5 degree slope.
Risk: An operator may improperly set up the unit, making the unit unstable, thus increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will notify owners, and issue CSN 719 to owners, instructing them to remove the incorrect placards, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2019. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 719.
Equipment 2019-02-27 · campaign 19V127000 · 14,389 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries, Inc (Altec) is recalling certain 2003-2019 Altec DL/DM, DL/DMB, and DC Digger Derrick vehicles. The pedestal tube welds may crack over time.
Risk: Unrepaired cracks may result in failure of the pedestal and uncontrolled movement increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will notify owners and will provide repairs as necessary and a reinforcing kit. The recall began April 3, 2019. Owners may contact Altec's customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 713.
Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers 2018-11-09 · campaign 18V791000 · 331 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2008-2018 Altec AC18, AC23, AC26, AC30 and AC38 Cranes and D2B, D3A, D4A/B, DL42B, DT65 and DT80 Digger Derrick vehicles. The wiring on the 12V circuit from the chassis battery to the Power Distribution Module (PDM) may be insufficiently sized.
Risk: The insufficiently sized wire may overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will replace the wiring to the PDM, with a larger wire and/or replace the circuit breaker, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2019. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 703.
Electrical System:software 2018-10-22 · campaign 18V745000 · 175 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries (Altec) is recalling certain 2014-2018 DHH and DHB Digger Derrick vehicles. The Zone Rating System may not alert the operator that the load being handled exceeds the rated load for the unit's specific position.
Risk: Without an alert, there is a greater risk of unit instability or a loss of load control, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will notify owners and dealers will update the Zone Rating System software, free of charge. The recall began December 12, 2018. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 700.
Equipment:mechanical:winch 2016-07-14 · campaign 16V536000 · 252 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Aerial Devices and Digger Derrick vehicles equipped with front bumper winches or capstans, manufactured December 26, 2015, to March 30, 2016. The affected vehicles have a hydraulic motor whose shaft may fail resulting in unexpected movement of the winch or the capstan.
Risk: Unexpected winch movement may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hydraulic motor, free of charge. The recall began on August 26, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-205-991-7733. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 635.
Equipment 2016-05-16 · campaign 16V307000 · 63 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 DL and DM Digger Derricks manufactured October 1, 2014, to April 30, 2016 with the digger booms mounted in the corner. The rotation bearing fasteners on the affected vehicles may not have been properly torqued.
Risk: If the fasteners are loose or improperly torqued, structural failure may result, causing unexpected movement of the digger derrick and increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec has notified owners, and instruct them to perform the annual torque inspection, free of charge. The recall began June 2, 2016. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 633.
Service bulletins (14)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-06-18 · SIL-3214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that the king pin towing capacity placard might not be installed on certain dl derricks built from august 2005 to october 2024. this could lead to unintentional overloading which could result in cracks or deformations to the king pin assembly. altec has had no reports of this issue
Unknown Or Other 2024-06-21 · SIL-3143 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that a 12-volt airtronics relay installed in the pdm could have been manufactured to an insufficient threshold on certain units built from december 2004 to october 2022. this can cause the relay to overheat and fail, causing the accessory lights to stop working.
Equipment:electrical:radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 2024-03-15 · SIL-3112 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that on certain digger derricks built from january 29, 2015, to december 3, 2020, equipped with a hetronic radio control system have experienced frequent dropouts or would not connect to the receiver. when the remotes were tested, the radio firmware was found to be at fault. hetron
Equipment 2024-01-26 · SIL 3129 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that the cap screws used to mount the planetary winch at the turntable could be shorter than specified on certain d3000a/b and d4000a/b units built from january 2012 to december 2015.
Unknown Or Other 2023-11-22 · SIL 3119 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that an incorrect grade auger retention pin could be installed on certain dc, dl, and dm derricks built from july 2015 to august 2023. over time, this could result in the pin becoming damaged.
Equipment 2023-06-28 · SIL 3068 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that certain digger derricks and aerial devices of various models built from january 2010 to january 2023 may contain access steps with a handrail and side plate that come together in a small space causing a potential pinch point. altec has created a kit to eliminate the possible p
Showing the 6 most recent of 14 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.