RoadVitals

2018 Altec DRM12 Wood Chipper

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.
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Latest Mar 3, 2021
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 DRM12 Wood Chipper. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 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

1 campaign cover this model year

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
21V133000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Mar 3, 2021
355 units potentially affected
The defect: Altec Industries, Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2017-2019 DC1317 and DRM12 Chippers equipped with a gasoline engine. The flexible section of the exhaust pipe may separate, creating an exhaust gas leak.
The risk: An exhaust gas leak in the engine compartment increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Altec will notify owners, and owners will receive instructions to replace the flex pipe, free of charge. The recall began April 28, 2021. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's number for this recall is CSN 802.
Altec Industries, Inc.Manufacturer number CSN 802View 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-3026

EQUIPMENT

Altec has learned that certain DRM 12 and DRM 12he chippers built from 2014 to 2022 could develop fatigue cracks in the upper pivot housing weldment. If not addressed, these cracks can lead to damage of the chipper. The customer should inspect the upper pivot housing weldment on the affected chippers. Complete this no later than 30 days from the receipt of the notice.

CSR 513

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Engine Power Source (EPS) has launched a technical bulletin for MVP controllers with potential memory loss. These controllers have a display on Altec DC1317 and DRM12 chippers. Affected units have the potential for the display to go blank due to a voltage drop during the boot-up cycle. This can be fixed by reloading the firmware and configuration files. Please refer to the communication from EPS. No action is required unless you are experiencing issues.

SIL 751

EQUIPMENT; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Altec has discovered that some of the fuel hoses used on chipper engines do not meet the proper specifications. While the fuel hose is not a safety concern, the hose does not meet the EPA permeation requirements per 40 CFR 1048.105. It is extremely important for the correct fuel line to be installed to minimize emissions to the atmosphere from vapor permeation through the body of the fuel line. Understanding the importance of this regulatory requirement, Altec and its customers will make a concerted effort to repair the units in a timely manner. Altec requires that the fuel lines on each unit be inspected for the correct type. The inspection must be completed at the next periodic maintenance interval but no later than 90 days after the receipt of this SIL.

SIL 705

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN

SIL 705 notified customers of product upgrades to the wood chipper and chassis PTO system.

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 DRM12 Wood Chipper by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2022000—
2021000—
2020000—
2019010—
2018Viewing010—
2017010—
2016000—
2015000—
2014000—

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.