Wireless Controller Sleep Mode Disabled – 2020 Smeal Aerial & Pumper Vehicles

January 12, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V005000

Wireless Controller Sleep Mode Disabled

Inability to use the wireless remote controller may hinder the firefighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V005

Manufacturer Smeal Holding, LLC

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 2

 

Summary

Smeal Holding, LLC (Smeal) is recalling certain 2020 Aerial and Pumper vehicles, equipped with battery-powered 3600 wireless remote controller units used to control the movement of electric firefighting monitors in firefighting vehicles. The monitor is used to direct the water stream and adjust the spray pattern. The wireless remote controller’s sleep mode is disabled, which results in the batteries discharging faster than normal.

 

Remedy

Smeal will notify owners, and dealers will ask the customer to return the affected controller to Akron Brass for a software update, free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2021. Owners may contact Smeal customer service at 1-800-867-6478. Smeal’s number for this recall is 20-17.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL – 21V005

This notice applies to the vehicle identification number below.

 

Dear Valued Customer,

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Smeal Holding, LLC has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2020 Aerial Fire Apparatus, equipped with an Akron 3600 wireless controller.

Please note: The Vehicle Identification Number that may be affected by this recall is located at the top of this letter.

 

What is the defect?

Vehicles included in this recall have a 3600 controller that is being recalled by their manufacturer, Akron Brass. As described in Akron’s recall 20E032, the 3600 controller is a battery powered unit. To maximize the useful life of the batteries, the unit is designed to enter a “sleep” mode after 30 seconds of inactivity by the user. The unit will awaken subsequently by pressing the power button. In the affected units, the sleep mode does not initiate, leaving the batteries on at full power for an extended time. This results in the batteries discharging faster than normal. Akron asserts it is possible that the rapid battery discharge could result in loss of power to the controller while in use. This may lead the firefighter to be unable to change the spray pattern or direction of water flow with the wireless controller. This could slow the progress of firefighting efforts and may increase the risk of injury.

LED lights illuminate the unit when powered on. These lights will blink to indicate low battery when the battery charge is low. The lights will go out, or not turn on, if the batteries are depleted.

 

Corrective Action:

The customer will be asked to return the affected controller to Akron Brass for a software update. Akron Brass will coordinate all shipping arrangements for return of the affected unit and for shipping of the repaired unit. There is no cost to the vehicle owner for the recall remedy.

 

Labor Time:

Akron estimates to repair the controller within 5 business days of confirmation that the unit is in the affected serial number range, excluding shipping time.

 

What You Should Do:

Please contact Akron at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-228-1161 to verify the unit is in the affected population and arrange shipment of the part (Part No. 36000013 or 36000015).

If you need further assistance with this notification, contact your local dealer to have the work performed. If you cannot locate a dealer, call Spartan at 1-800-867-6478 to locate your nearest dealer. Steps will be taken to ensure the recall is performed at the nearest dealer.

 

Leased Vehicles:

The lessor must notify the lessee by first class mail within ten (10) days from receipt of their owner notification letter from the manufacturer; both for the initial notification and all subsequent notifications.

 

Reimbursement:

If you had this repair performed before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall. For more information contact Spartan at 1-800-867-6478.

 

Information Change:

If you have changed your address, sold or traded your vehicle, please email us at [email protected] to provide updated information.

If the authorized service center has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge and within a reasonable time, contact Spartan at 1-800-867-6478. You may also submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov if you feel the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge

We regret any inconvenience this service may cause you. Your safety and continued satisfaction with the quality and performance of your chassis is of the utmost concern to us.

Sincerely,

Spartan Fire LLC

 

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2 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
SMEAL	AERIAL	2020
SMEAL	PUMPER	2020

 

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4 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-2

RCLQRT-21V005-8058.PDF 211.219KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V005-1641.PDF 214.347KB

 

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Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V005-4083.pdf 226.624KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-3

RCLQRT-21V005-1208.PDF 211.306KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=21V005&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2026-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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