2009 Sutphen SPH 100: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE OPERATING THE PLATFORM FOR A PUBLIC RELATIONS EVENT AT THE FIRE STATION, FOUR CIVILIANS AND ONE FIREFIGHTER WERE RAISED UP IN THE BUCKET. AT APPROXIMATELY 80 FEET EXTENSION AND 45 DEGREES ELEVATION THE LADDER COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE RESULTING IN THE LADDER RETRACTING RAPIDLY INTO ITS BEDDED POSITION. THE SUDDEN STOP CAUSING MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS. AT THE TIME THE ONLY OBVIOUS FAILURE WAS THE RETRACTION AND EXTENSION CABLES. AT THIS TIME THE FAILURE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY SEV…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500841 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-12-17 (December 17, 2009)

SUTPHEN CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2009 FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISC CM2150 AND ISL CM2150 MODEL DIESEL ENGINES. THE TRUCKS MAY BE DESIGNED WITH A HARD WIRED, DASH-MOUNTED SWITCH THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE OPERATOR TO INHIBIT AFTERTREATMENT DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER REGENERATION IN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE OPERATOR BELIEVES IT MAY BE UNSAFE FOR ELEVATED EXHAUST TEMPERATURES. DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE LOGIC IN THE ECM SOFTWARE IN THESE ENGINES, THE SWITCH MAY NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY, LEADING THE OPERATOR TO BELIEVE THAT THE SWITCH IS IN "INHIBIT" MODE WHEN IT IS NOT.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL PERMIT HOT EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TAILPIPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF MELTING OR BURNING OF NEARBY SURFACES, OR A FIRE.

Remedy: SUTPHEN CORPORATION IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE CUMMINS' DEFECT REPORT 09E-046. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS (1-800-343-7357).

Reported: 2010-03-02 (March 2, 2010)

SUTPHEN HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 SPH MODEL FIRE TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2004 AND JANUARY 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SERIES 60 DETROIT DIESEL OR C-13 CATERPILLAR ENGINES. PRE 2007, THE DETROIT DIESEL ENGINES WERE MOUNTED LOW IN THE FRAME WHICH CAUSES VIBRATION IN THE DRIVELINE. POST 2007, A NEW SUSPENSION AND FRAME DESIGN CAUSED THE DRIVELINE ANGLES OF THE DETROIT DIESEL AND CATERPILLAR ENGINES TO BE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Consequence: VIBRATION IN THE DRIVELINE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE U-JOINTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: SUTPHEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE FIRE TRUCKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUTPHEN AT 1-866-287-5549.

Reported: 2013-11-13 (November 13, 2013)

Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen) is recalling certain model year 2003-2012 SPH 100, model year 2000-2004 SP 110, model year 2003-2011 SPI 112 and model year 2003-2011 SAI 110 fire apparatus. In the affected vehicles, the bearings used for the extension of the ladder may seize causing the extension cables passing over them to chafe and fail.

Consequence: Failure of the extend/retract system can cause the aerial to unexpectedly retract. This movement could result in injuries to personnel on or around the vehicle.

Remedy: Sutphen has notified owners, and inspected all of the affected vehicles, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall was completed on May 17, 2013. Owners may contact Sutphen at 1-614-889-1005.

Reported: 2014-11-10 (November 10, 2014)

Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen) is recalling certain model year 2000-2014 SPH 100, SP 110, SPI 112, SAI 110 aerial devices manufactured November 5, 2014. The main extension cable on the aerial ladders may fail.

Consequence: A cable failure may cause the ladder to collapse in use, increasing the risk of injury to a user.

Remedy: Sutphen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the ladders, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Sutphen customer service at 1-866-287-5549. Sutphen's number for this recall is NACIS# 336120.