The defect
KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORPORATION (KME) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2010-2011 PREDATOR, PREDATOR SS, PREDATOR PANTHER, AND PREDATOR XL EMERGENCY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 1, 2010 THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH FEATURE CODE 04AZX MERITOR WABCO ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) UNITS. UNDER CERTAIN ROAD AND DRIVING CONDITIONS, VEHICLE BODY ROLL AND ROAD INCLINATION CHARACTERISTICS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SLIP ANGLE CALCULATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEM. THIS MIGHT CAUSE THE ESC TO PERCEIVE AN OVER STEERING SITUATION AND THEREFORE APPLY THE OUTER WHEEL BRAKE ON THE FRONT AXLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PERCEIVED TO BE STABLE.
The risk
THE VEHICLE MAY DEVIATE FROM THE INTENDED LINE OF TRAVEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
KME WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ESC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 5, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KME AT 1-570-669-5154.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Predator | 2010, 2011 |
| KME Predator Panther | 2010, 2011 |
| KME Predator SS | 2010, 2011 |
| KME Predator XL | 2010, 2011 |
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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 Predator | 2010 | 3 | 3 |
| KME Predator | 2011 | 1 | 4 |
| KME Predator Panther | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Predator Panther | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Predator SS | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator SS | 2011 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator XL | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Predator XL | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
Other electronic stability control (esc) recalls in 2012
2 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the electronic stability control (esc); KOVATCH MOBILE EQUIPMENT CORP filed 3 campaigns in all.
| 12V257000 7 Jun 2012 | VAN HOOL N.V. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012