The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·19V528000·Announced 2019-07-12

KME Fire Trucks Recalled for Cab Hydraulic Velocity Fuse Defect

KME is recalling various 2016-2020 Predator and Predator Panther fire trucks because hydraulic velocity fuses may fail to lock the cab during a system failure, posing an injury risk to occupants.

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 structural vehicle defect where a hydraulic failure could cause the cab to fall on occupants, posing a risk of injury. No injuries or deaths are reported in the source text, and the agency classification is not provided, fitting the 'High' criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2016-2020 KME Predator and Predator Panther fire trucks, including Pumper, SS Pumper, Rescue, SS Rescue, Aerial, SS Aerial, Tanker, SS Tanker, and TDA models. The recall involves 529 vehicles.

The defect involves the hydraulic system used to raise or lower the cab. In the event of a hydraulic system failure, the hydraulic velocity fuses may not activate to lock the cab in place. If the fuses do not activate, the cab may lower quickly and hit occupants working underneath, increasing the risk of injury.

KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the velocity fuses for each cab lift cylinder free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2019. 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 PREDATOR PANTHER PUMPER, PREDATOR SS PUMPER, PREDATOR SS RESCUE, PREDATOR AERIAL
Brand
KME
Manufacturer
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Trucks
Hazard
Affected units
529

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 (14)

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

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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