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Manufacturer recall number

Smeal recall 20-17

Smeal calls it 20-17. NHTSA filed it as campaign 21V005000 on Jan 12, 2021: equipment on the 2020 Smeal Aerial and 1 other Smeal model, 2 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings
NHTSA campaignVehiclesComponentFiledAffectedSeverity
21V0050002020 Smeal Aerial and 1 other Smeal modelEquipmentJan 12, 20212critical
Problem 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. Risk Inability to use the wireless remote controller may hinder the firefighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury. Fix 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.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 21V005000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. 20-17 is the number Smeal assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 21V005000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is 20-17 the same recall as 21V005000?

Yes. 20-17 is Smeal’s own number for it; 21V005000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does 20-17 cover?

2020 Smeal Aerial and 1 other Smeal model, 2 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the 20-17 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.