Recall 17V709 affects 375 1992-2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer vehicles for cracked boom tips. Repair is free at any franchised Altec dealer.
Altec is recalling 375 1992-2000 Aerial Cable Placer vehicles because the boom tips can crack and fail. A failed boom tip increases the risk of injury, and Altec dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The boom tip on a 1992-2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer is the end section of the aerial boom where the work attachment and load path come together. Its job is to hold the cable-placing equipment steady while the boom is raised, moved, and loaded during utility work.
On affected units, the original boom tip cracks. A cracked boom tip loses strength at the point that carries the working load, and the tip can fail instead of supporting the equipment as designed. The recall description does not identify a separate material or manufacturing cause. The known defect is the cracked original boom tip, and the replacement boom tip was redesigned.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because Altec only included units where it has no record of a prior boom tip replacement, owners need the unit inspected and the boom tip replaced if it has not already been replaced.
Who's affected?
Spans the 1992-2000 model years for the same Aerial Cable Placer model, all tied to the Mechanical equipment component.
| 1999 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
|---|---|
| 1994 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1995 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1993 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1997 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1992 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1998 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| 1996 Altec Aerial Cable Placer | Mechanical |
| Units affected | 375 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A failed boom tip creates an injury risk for the operator or anyone near the Aerial Cable Placer. Until the inspection is complete, keep people clear of the boom tip area and schedule service promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Altec dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1992-2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Altec dealer to schedule the free boom-tip inspection and replacement that fixes cracked or old-design boom tips.
- Bring the recall notice if Altec mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V709 when you call.
- Avoid using the boom if you see cracking at the boom tip, and keep people clear until Altec completes the inspection.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Altec technician inspects the boom tip for cracks and checks whether it is the old design covered by recall 17V709. If the boom tip is cracked or from the old design, the dealer replaces it. The inspection, replacement parts, and labor are free under the recall. If you already paid for a boom tip inspection or replacement tied to this recall, contact Altec customer service about its general reimbursement plan and keep your repair paperwork available.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 13, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 5, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 7, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V709?
Recall 17V709 covers 375 1992-2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer vehicles with boom tips that can crack and fail. If the boom tip fails, injury risk increases. Altec dealers inspect the boom tip and replace old-design or cracked parts for free.
What should I do if my 1992-2000 Altec Aerial Cable Placer is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V709. If it is, contact an Altec dealer to schedule the boom-tip inspection. Reference recall number 17V709 and Altec recall number CSN655 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Altec dealers will inspect the boom tip and replace any old-design or cracked boom tip free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury from a boom tip failure. The recalled Aerial Cable Placer vehicles have boom tips that can crack and fail, so Altec dealers need to inspect the part and replace any affected boom tip for free.
When did Altec start the recall repair?
Altec began the recall on December 7, 2017. The remedy is available, so owners of included 1992-2000 Aerial Cable Placer vehicles can contact an Altec dealer or Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832 for repair scheduling.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V709000 |
|---|---|
| Altec customer service | 1-877-462-5832 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V709 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V709000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →