Recall · 21V097000
Kovatch Mobile Equipment recalled 6 models over suspension
88
Vehicles covered
6
Models
24
Model years
February 19, 2021
Filed with NHTSA
SUSPENSION:MULTIPLE AXLE:TORQUE ARM
- The defect
- Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Predator SS Rescue, 2017 Predator Emergency Tractor, 2014-2020 Predator Panther Pumper, 2013-2017 Predator Pumper, 2014 Predator Rescue, and 2013-2020 Predator SS Pumper vehicles. The welds that attach the suspension mounts and torque rod mounts to the rear axle may have been insufficiently welded, possibly causing the welds to break.
- What it can cause
- Broken welds may cause the mounts to separate from the axle, resulting in loss of control of the vehicle, and increasing the risk of a crash.
- What the dealer does
- KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the welds, and repair any defects found, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2021. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
- NHTSA's note
- 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.
The repair is free, whatever the age or mileage of the vehicle, and whether or not you are the original owner.
Which vehicles
A recall reaches a range of VINs inside these model years, not every car built in them. Yours may not be covered even if it is listed here, and the only way to find out is NHTSA's own VIN lookup.
| Vehicle | Model years | Safety record |
|---|---|---|
| KME Predator | 2017 | Not published here |
| KME Predator Panther Pumper | 2014 to 2020 | Not published here |
| KME Predator Pumper | 2013 to 2017 | Not published here |
| KME Predator Rescue | 2014 | Not published here |
| KME Predator SS Pumper | 2013 to 2020 | Not published here |
| KME Predator SS Rescue | 2017 to 2018 | Not published here |
How this campaign compares
At 88 vehicles this is a small campaign: 72% of the 14,690 vehicle recalls with a published size filed from 1995 up to this one are as large or larger. The middle campaign among them covers 491. It covers model years 2013 to 2020, so the oldest vehicles on it were 8 model years old when the defect was reported to NHTSA.
KME vehicles have been recalled over the suspension 4 times before this, most recently in August 2019 as 19V577000. That is not evidence the earlier repair failed.
The vehicles on this campaign carry 4 other recalls published here: 20V487000 (exterior lighting), 20V341000 (service brakes), 20V192000 (electrical system), 20V051000 (electrical system).
Check your own car
A VIN check is the only answer for a specific vehicle, and it also shows every other open recall on it, which is usually the reason it is worth doing rather than reading one campaign.
Filed by Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. with NHTSA on February 19, 2021 as campaign 21V097000. Every word of the defect, consequence and remedy above is NHTSA's published record of that filing, not a summary of it.
Compiled and maintained by guarledes. Data last checked 2021-02-19.
Independent developer and analyst