The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| KME Commercial Rescue | 2017 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| KME Predator Rescue | 2018 |
| KME Predator SS Pumper | 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| KME Predator SS Wildland | 2016 |
| KME Wildland | 2015, 2016 |
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
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 Commercial Pumper | 2014 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2015 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2016 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2017 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2018 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Commercial Pumper | 2019 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Commercial Rescue | 2017 | 1 | 3 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2015 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2016 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2017 | 0 | 2 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2018 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Commercial Wildland | 2019 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2014 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2015 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2016 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2017 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2018 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2019 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2012 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2013 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2014 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2015 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2016 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2017 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2018 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2019 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Predator Rescue | 2018 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator SS Pumper | 2014 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Predator SS Pumper | 2015 | 0 | 8 |
| KME Predator SS Pumper | 2016 | 0 | 9 |
Other latches/locks/linkages recalls in 2019
13 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the latches/locks/linkages; Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 19V864000 4 Dec 2019 | Ford Motor Company |
| 19V849000 26 Nov 2019 | Volvo Car USA LLC |
| 19V665000 18 Sept 2019 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
| 19V607000 19 Aug 2019 | Manac Inc. |
| 19V392000 24 May 2019 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 19V390000 23 May 2019 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 19V347000 9 May 2019 | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) |
| 19V311000 17 Apr 2019 | Hyundai Motor America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019