The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·20V487000·Announced 2020-08-18

KME Fire Trucks Recalled for Excessively Bright LED Lights

KME is recalling 38 fire trucks because certain LED lights are too bright, potentially blinding other drivers and 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 (excessive light brightness causing vision impairment) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the 'High' severity criteria.

Plain-English summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling 38 specific fire truck models, including the Predator SS Rescue, Commercial Pumper, and Predator SS Aerial, manufactured between 2015 and 2021. These vehicles are equipped with certain Code 3 7x9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED lights that may exceed the maximum light output allowed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108.

The excessive brightness of these lights may adversely affect the vision of other drivers, which increases the risk of a crash. The recall began on October 9, 2020.

KME will notify owners, and dealers will instruct vehicle owners to contact Code 3 to obtain a filter kit (Part No. CZ0199) free of charge. Owners may also 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 SS RESCUE, PREDATOR PANTHER AERIAL, COMMERCIAL PUMPER, PREDATOR SS AERIAL
Brand
KME
Manufacturer
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Trucks
Hazard
Affected units
38

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 (12)

  • PREDATOR SS RESCUE
  • PREDATOR PANTHER AERIAL
  • COMMERCIAL PUMPER
  • PREDATOR SS AERIAL
  • PREDATOR SS PUMPER
  • PREDATOR PANTHER PUMPER
  • COMMERCIAL TANKER
  • COMMERCIAL WILDLAND
  • PREDATOR PANTHER TANKER
  • COMMERCIAL RESCUE
  • COMMERCIAL SKID
  • PREDATOR SS CHASSIS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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