2019 Altec Digger Derrick problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (14)
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:mechanical 2023-05-04 · campaign 23V326000 · 353 vehicles
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.
Structure:body 2023-03-30 · campaign 23V216000 · 1,967 vehicles
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.
Equipment:mechanical:boom/Crane/Ladder:controls/Control Wiring 2022-05-18 · campaign 22V349000 · 477 vehicles
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.
Equipment:mechanical:boom/Crane/Ladder 2022-02-09 · campaign 22V071000 · 167 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2018-2021 DC and DM Series Digger Derricks and AM series Aerial Devices. The unit subbase may develop cracks in the bulkhead plate, which can cause the shear plates to fail.
Risk: Shear plate failure can result in the separation of the subbase and truck frame, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Altec will inspect the bulkhead plate, and add a reinforcement plate, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 8, 2022. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 851.
Equipment 2021-07-22 · campaign 21V559000 · 878 vehicles
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.
Equipment 2020-12-10 · campaign 20V765000 · 4,987 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2018-2020 AA, AM, AN, A-Class, TA, DM, DL, DXXXX, DC, and DT digger derricks and aerial device vehicles equipped with a DC pump. A hydraulic check valve can have a snap ring failure resulting in the snap ring becoming lodged in a counterbalance or control valve allowing continued movement.
Risk: Unintended boom movement may result in potential injury and or property damage.
Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve's snap ring, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2021. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 787.
Equipment 2020-09-24 · campaign 20V587000 · 280 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2019-2020 AA55, AM50, A77-T Aerial Devices and D2/3/4B, D3E, DHB, DHH and DHE Digger Derricks. The bolts that secure the pedestal to the turntable (with head marking 5252) may fail.
Risk: If the fasteners break, the pedestal may separate from the turntable, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Altec will notify owners, and dealers will provide replacement fasteners if necessary, free of charge. This recall began October 29, 2020. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 778.
Equipment 2020-05-19 · campaign 20V282000 · 157 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2018-2020 AA55, AM50 and A77 Aerial Devices and D2, D3, D4, DH-B and DH-H Digger Derricks. The bolts that secure the pedestal to the turntable (with head marking 5185) may fail.
Risk: If the fasteners break, the pedestal may separate from turntable, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Altec will notify owners and will provide replacement fasteners if necessary, free of charge. This recall began July 2, 2020. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 760.
Equipment 2020-03-23 · campaign 20V174000 · 60 vehicles
Defect: Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2019-2020 DT65-E, D3000-E, and DH-E Digger Derricks Aerial devices. Operators could inadvertently open the pole guide while performing other tasks, possibly resulting in a loss of control of the load.
Risk: If the pole guide is opened while performing other operations, the pole may become unbalanced and cause loss of control of the load, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix: Altec will notify owners and will install a guard kit over the pole guide controls, free of charge. The recall began May 5, 2020. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 754.
Equipment 2019-10-04 · campaign 19V710000 · 275 vehicles
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.
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.
Service bulletins (27)
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
Electrical System 2025-06-13 · SIL-3225 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that the under-body lights on certain dl, dm, an, and l series units built from may 2019 to april 2023 require updated wiring with a larger fuse to prevent a blown fuse during max amp draw.
Unknown Or Other 2025-04-16 · PUN-3210 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has developed additional features and functionality for jems connect. features include vehicle status indicators and diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs), both are accessed from connect.
Unknown Or Other 2025-01-11 · SIL-3175 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that certain dc and dm model derricks built from january 2019 to june 2024 could have improper weld fusion. this means the welds could fail, causing a crack.
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-09 · SIL-3157 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
altec has learned that the structural subbase welds on certain dh derricks built from july 2016 to december 2023 could contain stitch welds rather than the required continuous welds, which could result in cracks forming in the subbase.
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.
Showing the 6 most recent of 27 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.