- Vehicles
- 16,342
- Built between
- Nov 2017 – May 2018
- Models
- 1
- Recall type
- Equipment
- Initiated by
- Manufacturer
- Owners notified
- 29 August 2018
- Repaired
- 39%
- Unrepaired
- 9,390
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between November 2017 and May 2018. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- Whelen Brake LightBuilt November 2017 to May 2018
Repair progress
9,390 of 16,342 vehicles in this recall had still not been repaired as of Q4 2025.
39% repaired — 6,425 of 16,342 reported
- Scrapped or exported
- 527
Manufacturers file these figures with NHTSA each quarter. Vehicles the manufacturer could not trace, or that have been scrapped or exported, are counted separately and are not included in the unrepaired figure.
What the defect is
Whelen Engineering Co Inc (Whelen) is recalling various models of accessory brake lights for use with emergency vehicles. Depending on the specific wiring of the vehicle, these brake lights may illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment." For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCLRPT-18E063-9047.pdf
What could happen
If the brake lights incorrectly illuminate, it can confuse other drivers, possibly increasing the risk of a crash.
What gets fixed
Whelen will notify owners, and will replace the brake lights, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2018.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtNovember 2017 to May 2018
- Recall reported to NHTSA26 July 2018
- Owners notified29 August 2018
- Latest repair reportQ4 2025 — 39% repaired
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 26 July 2018.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Manufacturer contact
Owners may contact Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331.
Official source
- Recalling manufacturer
- Whelen Engineering Co Inc
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 108
- Recall initiated by
- MFR
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.