The defect
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (Kovatch) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Predator, Predator SS, Panther; 2010-2011 ARFF; and model year 2010-2013 Panther II emergency vehicles. The grease fitting in the steering column shaft may get caught in the column cover. The grease fitting could tear the cover which will impact the driver's ability to steer the vehicle.
The risk
A sudden loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Kovatch will notify owners and dealers will remove the grease fitting, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kovatch at 1-570-669-5173. Kovatch's recall campaign number is 2013-E01.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Arff | 2010, 2011 |
| KME Panther | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| KME Panther II | 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| KME Predator | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| KME Predator SS | 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 |
Components: STEERING
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 Arff | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Arff | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther | 2011 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther | 2012 | 1 | 2 |
| KME Panther | 2013 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Panther II | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther II | 2011 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Panther II | 2012 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Panther II | 2013 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Predator | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator | 2010 | 3 | 3 |
| KME Predator | 2011 | 1 | 4 |
| KME Predator | 2012 | 2 | 3 |
| KME Predator | 2013 | 5 | 6 |
| KME Predator SS | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Predator SS | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator SS | 2011 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator SS | 2012 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Predator SS | 2013 | 0 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 2013
20 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the steering; Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 13V653000 12 Dec 2013 | Newmar Corporation |
| 13V605000 29 Nov 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V603000 29 Nov 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 13V588000 20 Nov 2013 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 13V529000 6 Nov 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V528000 6 Nov 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V527000 6 Nov 2013 | Chrysler Group LLC |
| 13V531000 25 Oct 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013