Hearth Record

Service brakes, electric (Altec)

Vehicle recall 96V-179. NHTSA received ALTEC, INCORPORATED’s report on Sep 23, 1996.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s own record is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

NHTSA received ALTEC, INCORPORATED’s report on Sep 23, 1996. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

THE TRAILER BRAKES MAY BE INOPERABLE OR COULD INADVERTENTLY BE APPLIED WHEN THE TRUCK CHASSIS LIGHTS ARE SWITCHED ON, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

THE BRAKE WIRE INSIDE THE TRAILER BRAKE WIRING PLUG WAS CONNECTED TO THE WRONG TERMINAL AND, THEREFORE, NOT PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE SWITCH IN THE TRUCK CAB WHICH CONTROLS THE TRAILER BRAKES.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, electric.

What should you do?

THE TRAILER BRAKE WIRING WILL BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED IF NECESSARY. OWNERS CAN PERFORM THIS INSPECTION AND REPLACE OR HAVE A DEALER DO THE NECESSARY CORRECTIONS IF THEY SO DESIRE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 15, 1996. NOTE:OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ALTEC AT 1-919-528-2535. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 825 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Altec Whisper Chipperand 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, before the model years listed here
  • Altec Whisperdiscand 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by ALTEC, INCORPORATED.
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.