The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·23V818000·Announced 2023-12-06

KME Recalls 2020 Fire Trucks Due to Electrical Fire Risk

Kovatch Mobile Equipment is recalling 2020 Severe Service, Predator, and Spartan MetroStar trucks because a firmware defect may cause electrical fires.

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 (fire risk) where no injuries or fatalities have been reported, meeting the criteria for a High severity score.

Plain-English summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2020 model year Severe Service, Predator, and Spartan MetroStar trucks. The recall involves 22 vehicles affected by a defect in the electrical system wiring.

In the event of a short circuit or wiring failure, the firmware in the vehicle multiplex system may fail to shut off the output pin. This malfunction can result in overloaded electrical circuits that overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

Dealers will work with the equipment manufacturer to update the firmware 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, SPARTAN FIRE SEVERE SERVICE, PREDATOR, METROSTAR
Brand
KME
Manufacturer
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Category
Vehicle — Fire Trucks
Hazard
Affected units
22

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 (3)

  • SEVERE SERVICE
  • PREDATOR
  • METROSTAR

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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