RoadVitals

2008 Smeal Aerial

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.
2
Latest Jan 28, 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 2008 Smeal Aerial. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

2 campaigns 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
21V029000

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:BOOM/CRANE/LADDER

Jan 28, 2021
343 units potentially affected
The 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.
The risk: A damaged positional waterway trolley can become disconnected from the ladder and drop to the ground, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The remedy: 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.
Smeal Holding, LLCManufacturer number 21-02View on NHTSA.gov
16V887000

EQUIPMENT

Dec 9, 2016
216 units potentially affected
The defect: Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc. (Smeal) is recalling certain model year 1997-2016 Rear Mount Aerial Platform Apparatus emergency vehicles manufactured January 1, 1997, to November 30, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with a movable ladder access guardrail that may bend or break under heavy loads.
The risk: A guardrail that bends or breaks under load can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy: Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will add a support to the opposite side of the guardrail, free of charge. The recall began on January 11, 2017. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-877-415-8628.
Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc.View 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.

TSB23-990-001

POWER TRAIN

This service bulletin is about potential for a crack or broken fasteners of the rearward pump transmision mounts and provides instructions on installing improved pump transmission mounting plates and gussets.

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

Smeal Aerial by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026010—
2024010—
2023010—
2022010—
2021000—
2020020—
2019010—
2018010—
2017030—
2016030—
2015060—
2014040—
2013040—
2012030—
2011030—
2010030—
2009020—
2008Viewing020—
2007010—
2006010—
2005010—
2004010—
2003010—
2002010—
2001010—
2000010—
1999010—
1998010—
1997010—

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.