Altec Suspension: Non-Powered Axle Assembly

Altec is recalling about 682 vehicles over a problem with the suspension. If the bracket breaks, the axle may separate from the chipper, increasing the risk of a crash.

Campaign
13V503000
Manufacturer
Altec Industries Inc.
Reported
17 October 2013
Vehicles
682
Built between
Not published
Models
4
Recall type
Vehicle
Initiated by
Manufacturer
Owners notified
15 November 2013
Repaired
12%
Unrepaired
601

Does this affect my vehicle?

The manufacturer did not publish a build-date range for this recall, so the model and year list below is the only way to tell whether your vehicle is covered.

  • 2008-2010 Altec WC126
  • 2008-2010 Altec WC126A
  • 2008-2010 Altec WC166
  • 2008-2010 Altec WC166A

Repair progress

601 of 682 vehicles in this recall had still not been repaired as of Q1 2015.

12% repaired — 81 of 682 reported

Manufacturers file these figures with NHTSA each quarter. Vehicles the manufacturer could not trace, or that have been scrapped or exported, are counted separately and are not included in the unrepaired figure.

What the defect is

Altec is recalling certain model year 2008-2010 WC126/166 and WC126A/166A Wood Chippers with various frame and axle combinations. In certain combinations, the bracket attaching the axle to the chipper may develop cracks and break.

What could happen

If the bracket breaks, the axle may separate from the chipper, increasing the risk of a crash.

What gets fixed

Altec will notify owners and service personnel will check and replace any axles as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2013.

Timeline

  1. Recall reported to NHTSA17 October 2013
  2. Owners notified15 November 2013
  3. Latest repair reportQ1 2015 — 12% repaired

Your rights

A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.

That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 17 October 2013.

To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.

Manufacturer contact

Owner's may contact Altec at 1-877-462-5832. Altec's recall number is CSN 581.

Official source

Manufacturer's recall number
CSN 581
Recalling manufacturer
Altec Industries Inc.
Recall initiated by
MFR

Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Additional notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Check your own vehicle

This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.

A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.

Same component

Same brand