The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·18E063000·Announced 2018-07-26

Whelen Recalls Accessory Brake Lights for Emergency Vehicles Due to Malfunction

Whelen Engineering is recalling accessory brake lights for emergency vehicles that may illuminate without the brake pedal being pressed, potentially confusing other drivers.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a functional defect in safety-critical lighting that may increase the risk of a crash, but no injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Whelen Engineering Co Inc is recalling various models of accessory brake lights designed for use with emergency vehicles. The recall affects 16,342 units. The defect involves the brake lights potentially illuminating when the brake pedal has not been pressed, causing the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108.

If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash. Whelen will notify owners and replace the brake lights free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2018.

Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331. For more information, owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.safercar.gov. A full list of affected models is available at the NHTSA website.

The recalled product

Product
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS recall
Manufacturer
Whelen Engineering Co Inc
Category
Vehicle — Lighting
Hazard
Affected units
16,342

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same hazard · crash risk

See all →

Similar recalls