2015 Smeal Aerial problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: Smeal Holding, LLC (Smeal) is recalling certain 2009-2020 Aerial Fire Apparatus vehicles equipped with a positional waterway trolley. If the operator attempts to both extend the ladder, and shift from one mode to the other at the same time, the locking tabs can be broken off the locking arms.

Risk: A damaged positional waterway trolley can become disconnected from the ladder and drop to the ground, increasing the risk of injury or death.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will adjust the proximity switches for those units equipped with a positional waterway mode shift timer interlock system, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2021. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-800-867-6478.

Defect: Smeal Holding LLC (Smeal) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Aerial and Pumper Fire Apparatus vehicles, equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.

Risk: A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and Hale service providers will install a remedy kit, free of charge. The recall began on December 11, 2017. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-800-543-5008 or Hale customer service at 1-800-533-3569. Smeal's number for this recall is 17028.

Defect: Smeal Holding, Inc. (Smeal) is recalling certain 2010-2017 Aerial Fire Apparatus vehicles. The torque frame may crack at the notched area.

Risk: A cracked frame may cause the aerial device to be unstable, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will repair the cracks and add a reinforcement, free of charge. The recall began on December 8, 2017. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-800-543-5008. Smeal's number for this recall is 17024.

Defect: Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc. (Smeal) is recalling certain model year 1997-2016 Rear Mount Aerial Platform Apparatus emergency vehicles manufactured January 1, 1997, to November 30, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a movable ladder access guardrail that may bend or break under heavy loads.

Risk: A guardrail that bends or breaks under load can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will add a support to the opposite side of the guardrail, free of charge. The recall began on January 11, 2017. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-877-415-8628.

Defect: Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc. (Smeal) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Aerial fire apparatus vehicles manufactured October 1, 2015, to August 31, 2015, equipped with Class 1 Ultraview Touchscreens manufactured by Hale Products. These touchscreens may experience false switch activations that can happen without the operator's knowledge causing accessories to turn on or off, affecting vehicle performance.

Risk: The unintended turning on or off of accessories such as emergency beacons or automatic snow chains can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the unit's software, free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2016. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-877-415-8628, option 1 for Smeal, then option 4 for Direct Customer Service.

Defect: Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc. (Smeal) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Smeal Aerial and Pumper fire trucks manufactured July 16, 2015, to August 1, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with certain C20 and C21 split-shaft transmissions from Waterous. This transmission sends power to the wheels of an emergency response vehicle or powers an add-on unit such as a water pump used for fighting fires. A component within the shift unit may be damaged and as a result, the operator ma

Risk: If the power output cannot be changed, once the fire truck arrives at the scene, it may not be able to pump water to aid in extinguishing the fire, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will remove the shift unit assembly and replace the clevis pin and retaining rings, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2016. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-877-415-8628.