Kme PREDATOR RESCUE recalls by model year

Reported: 2018-03-14 (March 14, 2018) · Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2007-2012 KME Predator Pumper, 2013 Predator SS Aerial, 2007 Predator Aerial, 2008-2011 Predator Rescue, and 2007 Predator Tanker vehicles, equipped with Timoney Independent Front Suspensions. Inconsistent machining may result in fatigue cracks developing over time in the front axle spindles, causing failure of the spindle and the possible separation of a front wheel from the vehicle.

Consequence: A wheel separation from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle spindle, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2018. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

Reported: 2016-08-08 (August 8, 2016) · Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2013 Predator Panther Rescue, 2013-2014 Predator Aerial, 2013-2016 Predator Pumper, Predator Rescue and Predator SS Aerial, 2014 7600 Tanker and Predator Tractor Drawn Aerial, 2014-2017 Predator Panther Pumper and Predator SS Pumper and 2017 Predator SS Rescue vehicles, equipped with Class 1 Ultraview Touchscreens by Hale Products. These touchscreens may experience false switch activations that can happen without the operator's knowledge, causing accessories to turn on or off.

Consequence: The unintended turning on or off of accessories such as emergency beacons or automatic snow chains can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the units, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3926 or Hale Products Customer Service Center @ 1-800-533-3569 or halecustomerservice@idexcorp.com.

Reported: 2016-08-16 (August 16, 2016) · Model years: 2013

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Predator Pumper, Predator Panther Pumper and Predator Aerial, 2013 Predator Panther Aerial and Predator Rescue and 2012 Predator Panther Tanker emergency vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the front grille may loosen and separate from the cab face.

Consequence: If the front grille detaches from the vehicle while driving, it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: All the vehicles affected in this campaign have been remedied. Therefore, an owner notification will not be issued. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-570-669-5577.

Reported: 2021-02-19 (February 19, 2021) · Model years: 2014

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Predator SS Rescue, 2017 Predator Emergency Tractor, 2014-2020 Predator Panther Pumper, 2013-2017 Predator Pumper, 2014 Predator Rescue, and 2013-2020 Predator SS Pumper vehicles. The welds that attach the suspension mounts and torque rod mounts to the rear axle may have been insufficiently welded, possibly causing the welds to break.

Consequence: Broken welds may cause the mounts to separate from the axle, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds, and repair any defects found, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2021. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

Reported: 2017-08-28 (August 28, 2017) · Model years: 2016

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2016 Predator Pumper, Predator Rescue, and Airport Refueler vehicles, equipped with certain Dana Spicer steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.

Consequence: If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening as necessary. If the nuts do not become properly secured and aligned after being adequately torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on October 5, 2017. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

Reported: 2019-07-12 (July 12, 2019) · Model years: 2017, 2018, 2019

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Predator Rescue, SS Rescue, SS Aerial, Aerial, SS TDA and Tanker and Predator Panther Rescue and Aerial, 2016-2020 Predator Panther Pumper and Predator SS Pumper, 2017-2020 Predator Panther Tanker and Predator Pumper, 2017 Predator SS Tanker and 2017-2018 Predator TDA. In the event of a hydraulic system failure while raising or lowering the cab, the hydraulic velocity fuses may not activate and lock the cab in place to prevent the cab from quickly closing.

Consequence: If the velocity fuses do not activate and stop the cab from lowering, the cab may hit occupants working underneath, increasing the risk of an injury.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the velocity fuses for each cab lift cylinder, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2019. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

Reported: 2018-09-13 (September 13, 2018) · Model years: 2018, 2019

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Commercial Pumper, Commercial Rescue, Commercial Tanker, Commercial Wildland, 2018-2019 Predator Aerial, Predator Panther Pumper, Predator Pumper, Predator Rescue, Predator SS Pumper, Predator Tanker, 2018 Predator Panther Aerial, Predator Panther Tanker, Predator SS Aerial, Predator SS TDA, and Predator TDA vehicles equipped with Whelen accessory brake lights. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began November 2, 2018. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

Reported: 2019-04-02 (April 2, 2019) · Model years: 2018

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017 Commercial Rescue, 2014-2019 Predator Panther Pumper, Commercial Pumper and Predator SS Pumper, 2012-2019 Predator Pumper, 2015-2019 Commercial Wildland, 2018 Predator Rescue and 2016 Predator SS Wildland vehicles. The lock for the gas springs that support the sliding, lift-up cover may be unintentionally disabled, preventing the lock from engaging.

Consequence: If the lock is not engaged, the sliding, lift-up cover may fall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to personnel working under the cover.

Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the gas springs on the sliding, lift-up cover with new gas springs with an alternative locking mechanism or new gas springs without a locking mechanism and a separate stay arm, free of charge. The recall began May 23, 2019. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.