2020 Smeal Aerial problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (2)
Equipment:mechanical:boom/Crane/Ladder 2021-01-28 · campaign 21V029000 · 343 vehicles
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.
Equipment 2021-01-12 · campaign 21V005000 · 2 vehicles
Defect: Smeal Holding, LLC (Smeal) is recalling certain 2020 Aerial and Pumper vehicles, equipped with battery-powered 3600 wireless remote controller units used to control the movement of electric firefighting monitors in firefighting vehicles. The monitor is used to direct the water stream and adjust the spray pattern. The wireless remote controller's sleep mode is disabled, which results in the batteries discharging faster than normal.
Risk: Inability to use the wireless remote controller may hinder the firefighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will ask the customer to return the affected controller to Akron Brass for a software update, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-800-867-6478. Smeal's number for this recall is 20-17.
Service bulletins (2)
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.
Structure 2024-01-30 · TSB24-600-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about certain vehicles equipped with a rear mounted aerial, that could experience the bolts that fasten the torque frame to some outrigger and frame rail locations may fail. as well as instructions on inspecting and measuring gaps between torque box mounting plates and frame
Structure:body:door 2023-08-30 · TSB23-110-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin is about damage to latch frame from striker contact and provides instructions on how to replace the door latches and striker.
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.