The defect
KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION (KME) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2011 AERIALCAT MODEL FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN AERIAL BUCKET THAT IS OPERATED WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROLS AND A TURNTABLE THAT HAS HYDRAULIC CONTROLS. ON THESE VEHICLES, UPON ACTIVATION OF THE DEAD MANS SWITCH ON THE TURNTABLE, THE LADDER MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE.
The risk
IF THE LADDER UNEXPECTEDLY MOVES, THE OPERATOR CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE BUCKET LOCATION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
The remedy
KME WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRUCKS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION AT 1-570-669-5154.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Aerialcat | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Components: EQUIPMENT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| KME Aerialcat | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2008 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Aerialcat | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
Other equipment recalls in 2012
128 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the equipment; KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORP filed 3 campaigns in all.
| 12V599000 21 Dec 2012 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 12V601000 21 Dec 2012 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 12V598000 20 Dec 2012 | Jerr-Dan Corporation |
| 12V593000 18 Dec 2012 | Champion Bus, Inc. |
| 12V584000 12 Dec 2012 | Creative Bus Sales, Inc. |
| 12V592000 11 Dec 2012 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 12V580000 10 Dec 2012 | Glaval Bus Division |
| 12V575000 10 Dec 2012 | Winnebago Industries Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012