The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·23V798000·Announced 2023-11-26

KME Fire Trucks Recalled for Parking Brake Defect

KME is recalling 2021-2023 fire trucks because a valve defect may delay parking brake engagement, increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (parking brake failure) that could allow unintentional vehicle movement, posing a significant risk of injury or property damage.

Plain-English summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Predator, Panther, and Severe Service fire trucks. The recall addresses a defect in the inversion valve that may delay park brake engagement. This issue causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

The affected models include the 2021-2023 Severe Service, 2022-2023 redundant Predator, 2021 Predator, 2022-2023 redundant Panther, and 2021 Panther. If the parking brake engages late, the vehicle could move unintentionally, which increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Dealers will inspect and replace the inversion valves as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 24, 2024. 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 redundant PREDATOR, SEVERE SERVICE, PREDATOR, redundant PANTHER
Brand
KME
Manufacturer
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Trucks
Hazard
Affected units
44

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 (5)

  • redundant PREDATOR
  • SEVERE SERVICE
  • PREDATOR
  • redundant PANTHER
  • PANTHER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · KME

Same manufacturer · Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.

See all →

Same hazard · unintentional movement

See all →