The defect
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Predator, Panther, and Severe Service fire trucks. A defect in the inversion valve may delay park brake engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk
Unintentional vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the inversion valves as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| KME Panther | 2021 |
| KME Predator | 2021 |
| KME Redundant Panther | 2022, 2023 |
| KME Redundant Predator | 2022, 2023 |
| KME Severe Service | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
Components: PARKING BRAKE
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 | 2021 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Predator | 2021 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Redundant Panther | 2022 | 0 | 5 |
| KME Redundant Panther | 2023 | 0 | 6 |
| KME Redundant Predator | 2022 | 0 | 4 |
| KME Redundant Predator | 2023 | 0 | 3 |
| KME Severe Service | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Severe Service | 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| KME Severe Service | 2023 | 0 | 1 |
Other parking brake recalls in 2023
17 of the 894 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2023 concerned the parking brake; Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 23V776000 17 Nov 2023 | Xos, Inc. |
| 23V774000 17 Nov 2023 | Forest River, Inc. |
| 23V760000 10 Nov 2023 | Xos, Inc. |
| 23V748000 7 Nov 2023 | Alexis Fire Equipment Company |
| 23V747000 7 Nov 2023 | Custom Fire Apparatus, Inc. |
| 23V699000 17 Oct 2023 | Autocar, LLC |
| 23V631000 12 Sept 2023 | Spartan Fire, LLC |
| 23V509000 21 Jul 2023 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2023