Recall 21V254 covers 82 2019-2021 Palfinger roll-off, cable-hoist, and hook-lift vehicles for broken tarp arms. Free repair at a franchised Palfinger dealer.
Palfinger is recalling 82 2019-2021 American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, and Hook Lift vehicles because welded gussets can fatigue and let the tarp arms break. Broken tarp arms can raise the risk of injury, and Palfinger dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Palfinger Generation II tarping system on 2019-2021 Palfinger American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, and Hook Lift trucks covers loaded containers, trailers, or dump bodies. Its tarp arms swing the tarp over the load and back again, so the arms and welded gussets need to carry repeated motion and vibration without cracking.
On the affected trucks, the supplier's tarp arm design concentrates stress at the welded gusset area. Palfinger found cracks and breaks at the elbows of returned upper tarp arms after a short field life. As the crack grows, the welded gusset loses strength and the tarp arm breaks instead of supporting the tarp through its normal travel.
The warning sign is visible cracking at the welded gusset during close inspection. Check the upper tarp arm elbows and the welded support area before operating the tarping system.
Who's affected?
Spans three Palfinger equipment lines across the 2019, 2020, and 2021 model years, all using the same Generation II tarping system.
| 2019 Palfinger American Roll Off | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2020 Palfinger American Roll Off | Equipment |
| 2021 Palfinger Cable Hoist | Equipment |
| 2019 Palfinger Cable Hoist | Equipment |
| 2021 Palfinger Hook Lift | Equipment |
| 2020 Palfinger Hook Lift | Equipment |
| 2019 Palfinger Hook Lift | Equipment |
| 2021 Palfinger American Roll Off | Equipment |
| 2020 Palfinger Cable Hoist | Equipment |
| Units affected | 82 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
Broken tarp arms can fail and increase the risk of injury. Small cracks at the welded gusset are the warning sign to look for during a close inspection. If you see cracks, stop using the tarp system and call the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Palfinger dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2021 Palfinger American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, or Hook Lift is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Palfinger dealer to schedule the free tarp-arm replacement that addresses welded-gusset fatigue and broken tarp arms.
- Bring the recall notice if Palfinger has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V254 when you call.
- Keep people clear of the tarp-arm area until the repair is complete.
- Call Palfinger customer service at 1-609-588-5400 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Palfinger technician replaces the tarp arms affected by recall 21V254. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. The remedy addresses fatigue failure at the welded gusset, which can let the tarp arms break on equipped American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, and Hook Lift products. Palfinger has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related repair before the recall work was completed. Bring repair invoices and payment documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit them under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 12, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 30, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 10, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V254?
Recall 21V254 covers 82 2019-2021 Palfinger American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, and Hook Lift vehicles equipped with American Roll-Off cable hoist and hook lift products. A welded gusset can fatigue and break the tarp arms, increasing injury risk. Palfinger dealers will replace the tarp arms for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2021 Palfinger American Roll Off, Cable Hoist, or Hook Lift is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V254. If it is, contact a franchised Palfinger dealer to schedule the tarp-arm replacement. Reference recall number 21V254 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. For recall 21V254, Palfinger dealers will replace the tarp arms free of charge, including parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury from broken tarp arms. The recall says fatigue failure of the welded gusset can cause the tarp arms to break. If your VIN is included, arrange the free dealer repair before regular use.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V254000 |
|---|---|
| Palfinger customer service | 1-609-588-5400 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V254 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V254000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →