The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·16V887000·Announced 2016-12-09

Smeal Aerial Fire Apparatus Recalled for Guardrail Defect

Smeal is recalling 216 aerial fire apparatus vehicles because a movable ladder access guardrail may bend or break under heavy loads, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural component (guardrail) that may fail under load, posing a risk of injury, but the source text does not report any actual injuries or fatalities, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc. is recalling certain model year 1997-2016 Rear Mount Aerial Platform Apparatus emergency vehicles. The affected vehicles were manufactured between January 1, 1997, and November 30, 2016. A total of 216 units are included in this recall.

The recall addresses a movable ladder access guardrail that may bend or break under heavy loads. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a guardrail that fails under load can increase the risk of injury to personnel.

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 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
SMEAL AERIAL, AERIAL FIRE APPARATUS
Brand
SMEAL
Manufacturer
Smeal Fire Apparatus Co., Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Apparatus
Hazard
Affected units
216

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • AERIAL
  • AERIAL FIRE APPARATUS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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Same hazard · structural failure

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