- Vehicles
- 12
- Built between
- Jun 2006 – Dec 2012
- Models
- 5
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- Manufacturer
- Owners notified
- 2 May 2018
- Repaired
- 75%
- Unrepaired
- 3
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between June 2006 and December 2012. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 2007 KME Predator AerialBuilt June 2006 to June 2006
- 2007-2012 KME Predator PumperBuilt October 2006 to May 2011
- 2008-2011 KME Predator RescueBuilt January 2008 to March 2010
- 2013 KME Predator SS AerialBuilt December 2012 to December 2012
- 2007 KME Predator TankerBuilt September 2006 to September 2006
Repair progress
3 of 12 vehicles in this recall had still not been repaired as of Q3 2019.
75% repaired — 9 of 12 reported
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
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2007-2012 KME Predator Pumper, 2013 Predator SS Aerial, 2007 Predator Aerial, 2008-2011 Predator Rescue, and 2007 Predator Tanker vehicles, equipped with Timoney Independent Front Suspensions. Inconsistent machining may result in fatigue cracks developing over time in the front axle spindles, causing failure of the spindle and the possible separation of a front wheel from the vehicle.
What could happen
A wheel separation from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
What gets fixed
KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle spindle, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2018.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtJune 2006 to December 2012
- Recall reported to NHTSA14 March 2018
- Owners notified2 May 2018
- Latest repair reportQ3 2019 — 75% 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 14 March 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 KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
Official source
- Recalling manufacturer
- Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
- 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.