Kalmar has filed a recall with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 5 covering three configurations of its Ottawa T2 terminal tractor, after the company identified a potential electrical insulation fault in the cabin power distribution board.

The action covers the Ottawa T2 4×2 DOT/EPA, the Ottawa T2 Off Road, and the Ottawa T2 6×4 DOT/EPA variants. Kalmar's recall notice frames the population as a fraction of the installed base rather than a hard unit count.

What is the defect?

The power distribution board located inside the cabin can lose electrical insulation resistance, creating a short-circuit risk. In very rare circumstances, the fault has produced thermal events inside the cabin.

"While these instances are rare, Kalmar is taking proactive steps to address the issue and support the continued safety and reliability of the Ottawa T2 units," the company said in its filing.

Kalmar quantified the exposure tightly. "Units involved with these events account for a very small portion of the Ottawa T2 fleet—less than 0.001% of total units," the notice stated.

How will Kalmar fix it?

The remedy is the addition of a remote ground stud combined with a fuse. The RGS-fuse assembly fully isolates the affected electrical circuits and prevents thermal events from occurring during normal operation.

Kalmar will reach out to affected customers in the coming weeks and route the work through its authorised service network. The OEM has not released a total vehicle count or production date range for the campaign.

What does this mean for terminal operators?

Terminal tractors shuttle containers and trailers between quays, yards, and gates inside ports and distribution centres. Most assets run multi-shift duty cycles, meaning a small parked share can quickly translate into measurable yard congestion.

A thermal event also carries a secondary cargo risk. Terminals frequently refuel and stage tractors near stacked containers, where a cabin fire can escalate into a wider loss-prevention incident. Operators will want RGS retrofits scheduled into planned downtime rather than mid-shift.

What is the commercial exposure?

The Ottawa T2 sits inside the Kalmar terminal tractor portfolio following the company's acquisition of the Ottawa brand in 2020. Kalmar continues to manufacture the line for North American ports, intermodal hubs, and large distribution centres.

For lessors and 3PLs running Ottawa T2 fleets, the financial hit should be limited: a small share of the installed base, a single retrofit, and a service-led rollout. The bigger variable is execution. Each tractor typically requires a service-bay visit, and yards running near peak capacity have little slack for unscheduled downtime.

Forwarders and shippers are unlikely to feel a direct rate impact, but any tractor pulled for a safety campaign reduces drayage flexibility at already stretched US ports.

What is Kalmar saying?

"Customer safety and the reliability of their operations are of utmost importance to us," said Thor Brenden, President, Terminal Tractors, at Kalmar.

"We are taking direct action to reach affected owners, provide clear guidance and complete the necessary work. We will work closely with customers and our service network throughout this process to help keep their Ottawa T2 terminal tractor fleets productive," Brenden added.

What happens next?

Kalmar will begin customer outreach within weeks and complete the RGS-fuse retrofit through its service network. The company has not yet published a closure date for the campaign, but filings of this scale typically run on a phased calendar once parts and scheduling align.