RoadVitals

2018 Altec Digger Derrick

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
18
Latest Aug 29, 2025
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2018 Altec Digger Derrick. 18 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

18 campaigns cover this model year

View all 18

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
25V562000

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Aug 29, 2025
903 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: A cable step that fails during use increases the risk of injury.
The remedy: 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.
Altec Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number CSN-3246View on NHTSA.gov
23V636000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:WINCH

Sep 14, 2023
53 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: An uncontrolled load falling increases the risk of injury to personnel or others nearby.
The remedy: 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.
Altec Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number MAB 3113View on NHTSA.gov
23V326000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL

May 4, 2023
353 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: An auger extension bar that detaches while the digger drive unit is deployed, can increase the risk of injury to nearby personnel.
The remedy: 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.
Altec Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number CSN 3076View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SIL-3214

STRUCTURE:BODY

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 occuring. This area should be inspected regularly as outlined in the Welds and Fasteners subsections in Section 4 of the unit’s Maintenance and Parts Manual.

PUN-3210

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.

SIL-3157

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.

SIL-3143

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

SIL-3112

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

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. Hetronic has released a new firmware update for radios built beginning in January 2015 that can be flashed onto the radio by Altec Service Technicians.

SIL 3119

EQUIPMENT

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.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Altec Digger Derrick by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
20250110—
2024090—
20230110—
20220100—
20210100—
20200110—
20190140—
2018Viewing0180—
20170150—
20160150—
2015080—
2014080—
2013090—
20120110—
20110110—
2010080—
2009080—
2008050—
2007040—
2006040—
2005040—
2004040—
2003030—
2002020—
2001020—
2000020—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—
1996010—
1995010—
1994010—
1993010—
1992010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.