Recall 13V134 covers 17 2010-2012 Altec AC18, AC23, and AC38 crane trucks for weak front outrigger brackets. Repair is free at any franchised Altec dealer.
Altec is recalling 17 2010-2012 AC18, AC23, and AC38 crane trucks because front bumper outrigger brackets on Kenworth chassis are inadequate for full crane capacity in certain positions. If an outrigger bends under load, the truck can lose stability and lead to injury, death, or property damage; the Altec dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front bumper outrigger on 2010-2012 Altec AC18, AC23, and AC38 cranes is a stabilizing leg mounted at the front of the Kenworth chassis. When the crane is set up for lifting, the outrigger helps spread the load into the chassis so the crane stays supported while the boom works.
On affected cranes, the brackets that attach the outrigger to the front bumper are not strong enough for the crane's full capacity in certain positions. That means the outrigger mount is the weak point. Under load, the bumper bracket assembly does not provide the support the crane setup depends on.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because the problem is in the mounting support, an operator should not rely on noise, movement, or visible damage to know the crane is safe at full capacity.
Who's affected?
Spans AC38, AC18, and AC23 models across the 2010-2012 model years, with equipment and body-structure components listed for each model.
| 2012 Altec AC38 | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2012 Altec AC38 | body structure |
| 2011 Altec AC18 | Equipment |
| 2011 Altec AC18 | body structure |
| 2011 Altec AC23 | Equipment |
| 2011 Altec AC23 | body structure |
| 2010 Altec AC38 | Equipment |
| 2010 Altec AC38 | body structure |
| 2011 Altec AC38 | Equipment |
| 2011 Altec AC38 | body structure |
| 2012 Altec AC18 | Equipment |
| 2012 Altec AC18 | body structure |
| 2010 Altec AC18 | Equipment |
| 2010 Altec AC18 | body structure |
| 2012 Altec AC23 | Equipment |
| 2012 Altec AC23 | body structure |
| 2010 Altec AC23 | Equipment |
| 2010 Altec AC23 | body structure |
| Units affected | 17 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Inadequate mounting brackets can let the outrigger bend, reducing crane truck stability. That loss of stability raises the risk of injury, death, or property damage. Avoid crane use that depends on the front bumper outrigger until a dealer checks the truck, and schedule the recall work soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Altec dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2012 Altec AC38, AC18, or AC23 crane is included in this recall.
- Contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832 to confirm the repair path for your VIN.
- Ask a franchised Altec dealer about the free front-bumper-outrigger attachment replacement that restores support for crane stability.
- Reference recall number 13V134 when you call Altec or the dealer.
- Avoid using the crane in affected outrigger positions until the dealer repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Altec technician replaces the front bumper outrigger attachments tied to the Kenworth chassis bumper. The repair is aimed at the brackets that hold the front outrigger in place when the crane is set up for work. Altec began owner notifications on May 22, 2012, but the current remedy status is not listed in the campaign details provided here. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| April 4, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 22, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V134?
Recall 13V134 covers 17 2010-2012 Altec AC38, AC18, and AC23 cranes with front bumper outriggers on Kenworth chassis. The outrigger mounting brackets are inadequate for full crane capacity in certain positions. Altec dealers will replace the front bumper outrigger attachments for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2012 Altec AC38, AC18, or AC23 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific crane truck is included in recall 13V134. If it is, contact an Altec dealer to schedule replacement of the front bumper outrigger attachments. Reference recall 13V134 and Altec campaign CSN 573 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost to the owner. Altec's remedy for recall 13V134 is replacement of the front bumper outrigger attachments by dealers.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk in recall 13V134 is reduced crane truck stability. The inadequate front bumper outrigger brackets can bend when the crane is used at full capacity in certain positions, which can result in injury, death, or property damage. Confirm your VIN before using the crane.
When were owners notified about recall 13V134?
Altec began notifying owners on May 22, 2012. If you bought the crane truck used or never received the notice, check your VIN to confirm whether the specific unit is included, then call Altec at 1-877-462-5832 or contact an Altec dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V134000 |
|---|---|
| Altec customer service | 1-877-462-5832 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V134 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V134000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →