The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·18V622000·Announced 2018-09-13

KME Fire Trucks Recalled for Brake Light Wiring Defect

KME is recalling 111 fire trucks because brake lights may illuminate without the 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 risk-of-harm product where the defect (incorrect brake light illumination) could increase the risk of a crash, but no injuries or fatalities have been reported in the source text.

Plain-English summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Commercial Pumper, Commercial Rescue, Commercial Tanker, and Commercial Wildland vehicles, as well as 2018-2019 Predator series aerial, pumper, rescue, and tanker vehicles. The recall affects 111 vehicles equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights.

Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. This condition causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash. KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake lights free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
KME COMMERCIAL PUMPER, COMMERCIAL TANKER, COMMERCIAL WILDLAND, PREDATOR PANTHER TANKER
Brand
KME
Manufacturer
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Apparatus
Hazard
Affected units
111

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (15)

  • COMMERCIAL PUMPER
  • COMMERCIAL TANKER
  • COMMERCIAL WILDLAND
  • PREDATOR PANTHER TANKER
  • PREDATOR SS PUMPER
  • PREDATOR AERIAL
  • PREDATOR PUMPER
  • PREDATOR RESCUE
  • PREDATOR TANKER
  • PREDATOR TDA
  • COMMERCIAL RESCUE
  • PREDATOR SS AERIAL
  • PREDATOR PANTHER AERIAL
  • PREDATOR PANTHER PUMPER
  • PREDATOR SS TDA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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