The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·19V028000·Announced 2019-01-11

HME 1871 Recall: Whelen Brake Lights May Illuminate Incorrectly

HME is recalling 2017-2018 1871 vehicles with Whelen accessory brake lights that may falsely illuminate, increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

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 (increased crash risk due to driver confusion) where no specific injuries or fatalities have been reported in the source text, fitting the 'High' severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

HME, Inc. is recalling certain 2017-2018 HME 1871 vehicles equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may falsely illuminate even when the brake pedal is not 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 falsely illuminate, other drivers could become confused, which increases the risk of a crash. The recall began on March 6, 2019.

HME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Whelen brake lights free of charge. Owners may contact HME's customer service at 1-616-534-1463. 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.

The recalled product

Product
HME 1871
Brand
HME
Manufacturer
HME, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Lighting / Electrical
Hazard
Affected units
46

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 (1)

  • 1871

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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