2017 Altec Digger Derrick problems, complaints & recalls

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.

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.

Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2017-2022 DC, DB, DL, DM, DH, DT, and D2/3/4000 Digger Derricks. The hardware that secures the removable auger hex extension bar to the drive unit coupler was not installed, which may cause it to detach.

Risk: An auger extension bar that detaches while the digger drive unit is deployed, can increase the risk of injury to nearby personnel.

Fix: Altec will provide instructions for owners to inspect the auger extension assembly for missing hardware. If hardware is found to be missing, a replacement kit will be provided by Altec, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed June 30, 2023. Owners may contact Altec's customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 3076.

Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2022 DM, DH, DC, DL, D2000, D3000, and D4000 series digger derricks, and AM55 aerial devices. The base of the rear pole rack may be missing a weld.

Risk: A missing weld on the rear pole rack can lead to a crack that could cause the pole and rack to drop in height, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: Altec will inspect the rear pole rack mounting plate, and if necessary, replace any required welds, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Altec's customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 3064.

Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2022 E-series & DH-H series Digger Derricks. The relay connectors may have been reattached to the incorrect plug after a stability test was performed. If the connections are not correct, the hydraulic overload protection system will not function.

Risk: A nonfunctional overload protection system may result in the operator unknowingly overloading the system, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Altec will inspect and reattach the connectors, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 29, 2022. Owners may contact Altec's customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 858.

Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2021 DH, D3000, DT65, and DT85 Digger Derricks. The operator may inadvertently move the pole guide joystick with their forearm due to the close proximity between the controls.

Risk: An unintentionally engaged joystick could result in uncontrolled movement of an unbalanced load, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Altec will provide a guard kit to install over the pole guide controls, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 15, 2021. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 829.

Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Altec D2/3/4B, DLB, DMB, DHB, DT65 and DT80 Digger Derrick vehicles. The outrigger valves may be plumbed incorrectly. As a result, the outriggers could continue retracting after an operator has stopped controlling them.

Risk: If the outriggers continue to retract without command, the unit may become unstable and collapse, increasing the risk of injury or death to those nearby.

Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the outrigger valve plumbing correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 25, 2019. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 739.

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.

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.

Defect: Altec Industries, Inc is recalling certain 2017-2018 Digger Derrick, Aerial Devices, and Service Body vehicles, equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such these vehicles fail to comply to with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2019. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 708.

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.

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.

Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Altec LR7, L42A and AT37-G TDA58 aerial devices and DB37, DL/DMB D2/3/4B, and DMB digger derricks, equipped with fiberglass platforms. The step on the outside of the fiberglass platform can break off during normal use.

Risk: If the step separates from the platform, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the platform step and replace the platform if the step has separated from the platform and add a platform step reinforcing kit, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 695.

Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Altec Aerial Devices and Digger Derrick vehicles. The high voltage grounding system may be equipped with improperly sized cable connection receptacles causing the high voltage grounding system to fail.

Risk: If the grounding system fails, the user has an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the high voltage grounding system cable ring terminal connectors and replace any that are improperly sized, free of charge. The recall began on August 6, 2018. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 686.

Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Digger Derrick DM, D2000, D3000, D4000 Series vehicles built on Freightliner M2106/V chassis. The starter cable may be improperly secured, allowing the cable to chafe which could result in an electrical short.

Risk: An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and better secure the starter cable as needed, free of charge. The recall began July 20, 2018. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 683.