Recall 21V412 affects 8 2019-2020 Sutphen Fire Truck fire trucks for wireless remote battery drain. Repair is free at any franchised Sutphen dealer.
Sutphen is recalling 8 2019-2020 Fire Truck vehicles because a battery-powered wireless remote controller for the firefighting monitor has sleep mode disabled, draining batteries faster than normal. A dead remote can hinder firefighting efforts and increase injury risk; Sutphen dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wireless remote controller on the 2019-2020 Sutphen Fire Truck runs the electric firefighting monitor, the nozzle assembly that aims the water stream and changes the spray pattern. A firefighter uses the controller to point the monitor and adjust how water is delivered during operation. The system depends on the controller having battery power when the monitor is needed.
On affected trucks, the controller software did not enable its battery-saving sleep mode. The controller stays powered on when it is not being used, so the batteries drain faster than designed. If the batteries run out before use, the controller will not turn on. If they run out during use, water keeps flowing from the pumps, but the firefighter loses remote control of direction and spray pattern.
The unit has LED lights when powered on. Blinking LEDs mean the battery charge is low. If the lights go out or do not turn on, the batteries are depleted.
Who's affected?
The listed trucks use Akron Brass wireless remote controllers with part numbers 36000013 and 36000015.
| 2019 Sutphen Fire Truck | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2020 Sutphen Fire Truck | Equipment |
| Units affected | 8 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
Year and model alone do not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the wireless remote controller stops working, crews lose a control path during firefighting, which hinders response and increases the risk of injury. Blinking LEDs indicate low battery; lights that go out or fail to turn on indicate depleted batteries. Keep batteries charged and schedule the software update soon. Repair is free at any franchised Sutphen dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Sutphen Fire Truck is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Sutphen dealer to schedule the free wireless-remote software update that fixes the disabled sleep mode and faster battery discharge.
- Bring the recall notice if Sutphen has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V412 when you call.
- Keep fresh batteries available for the wireless remote controller until the software update is complete.
- Call Sutphen customer service at 1-614-889-1005 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Sutphen technician updates the wireless remote controller unit software for the battery powered monitor controller. The update covers the controller software in recall 21V412 and is free under the recall. Parts, labor, and software work are covered. Sutphen has a general reimbursement plan on file for eligible out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. If you already paid for this controller software repair, keep your repair paperwork and contact Sutphen customer service about reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 1, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| June 5, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 8, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 2, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
| October 6, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V412?
Recall 21V412 covers 8 2019-2020 Sutphen Fire Truck vehicles equipped with a battery-powered 3600 wireless remote controller for electric firefighting monitors. The controller sleep mode is disabled, which drains batteries faster than normal. Sutphen dealers will update the controller software for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Sutphen Fire Truck is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific fire truck is included in recall 21V412. If it is, contact a Sutphen dealer to schedule the wireless remote controller software update. Reference recall number 21V412 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost to owners. Sutphen dealers will update the wireless remote controller unit software free of charge for included 2019-2020 Fire Truck vehicles.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of wireless remote controller function during firefighting operations. If the controller batteries discharge faster than expected, crews lose that control path for directing the water stream and adjusting the spray pattern, which can hinder firefighting efforts and increase injury risk.
Who should I contact about this Sutphen recall?
Contact a Sutphen dealer or Sutphen customer service at 1-614-889-1005. Have the VIN and recall number 21V412 ready so the service desk can confirm whether the fire truck is included and arrange the controller software update.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V412000 |
|---|---|
| Sutphen customer service | 1-614-889-1005 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V412 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V412000 |
Source documents
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 →