The defect
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (Kovatch) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Predator, Predator SS, Panther, and model year 2011 Panther II emergency vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, through February 28, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with Meritor axle assemblies that were built with disc brakes using MGM J24 series air brake chambers. In the affected axles, the brake chambers may leak pressure allowing the parking brake to drag when it is supposed to be released. Brake dragging could lead to overheated brake components.
The risk
Overheated brake components could result in a fire.
The remedy
Kovatch will notify owners and will replace the actuators as needed, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in May 2013. Owners may contact Kovatch at 1-570-669-5132.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Panther | 2012, 2013 |
| KME Panther II | 2011 |
| KME Predator | 2012, 2013 |
| KME Predator SS | 2012, 2013 |
Components: PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR
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 Panther | 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| KME Panther | 2013 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Panther II | 2011 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator | 2012 | 2 | 3 |
| KME Predator | 2013 | 5 | 6 |
| KME Predator SS | 2012 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator SS | 2013 | 0 | 3 |
Other parking brake recalls in 2013
15 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the parking brake; Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 13V643000 24 Dec 2013 | Blue Bird Body Company |
| 13V495000 17 Oct 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V474000 26 Sept 2013 | Volvo Bus Corporation |
| 13V435000 17 Sept 2013 | Pierce Manufacturing |
| 13V205000 16 May 2013 | FERRARA FIRE APPARATUS, INC |
| 13V152000 22 Apr 2013 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 13V153000 22 Apr 2013 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 13V145000 17 Apr 2013 | E-One Incorporated |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013