Possible Waterway Weld Failure – 2018 KME Predator Tractor-Drawn Aerial (TDA) Vehicles

March 7, 2019

Possible Waterway Weld Failure

Failure of the weld while the waterway has water in it increases the risk of injury to those nearby.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V189

Manufacturer Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.

Components STRUCTURE

Potential Number of Units Affected 2

 

Summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2018 Predator Tractor-Drawn Aerial (TDA) vehicles. A weld may fail on the waterway pipes, possibly resulting in a pipe detaching from the vehicle.

 

Remedy

KME will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected sections of the lower waterways, free of charge. The recall began April 18, 2019. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.

 

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.

 


April 18, 2019

Name
Address
City, State Zip

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 19V189

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

 

This notice applies to your vehicle(s):

 

 

Dear KME Vehicle Owner:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

 

Why is a recall being conducted? 

KME has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2018 KME Tractor-Drawn Aerial vehicles manufactured from April 2018 through June 2018 equipped with certain aerial inlet waterway piping.

KME determined that a weld joint on the lower aerial waterway inlet piping may have been welded with an improperly prepared weld joint, which may lead to weld joint failure.  If the weld joint fails while the piping is charged or charging with water, a piece of the piping may detach and be ejected from the vehicle and injure bystanders.

 

What are we doing about the problem?

KME will replace the affected sections of the lower waterways at no charge to the owner.  The estimated time to complete the replacement is 4 hours.

 

What should you do? 

If you receive this notification, please contact your KME Dealer or KME Customer Service at (570) 669-5230 to schedule an appointment to have your vehicle(s) remedied.

INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER IS AN OWNER RESPONSE CARD TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED TO KME.  Please have your Truck VIN or GSO available.  After the repair has been completed, please fill in the appropriate information on the enclosed Owner Response Postcard, sign it, and return it to:

Mail: KME, One Industrial Complex, Nesquehoning, PA 18240
E-mail: [email protected]
Fax: (570) 669-5182

 

What if you no longer own this vehicle?

If you are not the current owner of the vehicle, please indicate this on the Owner Response Postcard and return the card to us. 

Federal law requires any lessor who receives a notification of a safety related defect or noncompliance pertaining to any leased motor vehicle shall send the notice to the lessee within 10 days. If you are no longer the owner of this vehicle, please provide us with any contact information so we may contact the new owner.

If you have already paid to have your vehicle repaired for this condition, you may be eligible for reimbursement of the charges you paid for the repair or replacement of components. To learn more about what you need to do to obtain reimbursement, contact our customer service department.

If after having attempted to take advantage of this recall you believe you have not been able to have your vehicle remedied without charge and within a reasonable amount of time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C., 20590; or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

 

We apologize for any inconvenience this safety recall may cause, but your safety is our first concern.

 

Sincerely,

KME, Inc


April 18, 2019

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 19V189

 

TO: Affected KME Dealers

KME has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2018 KME Tractor-Drawn Aerial vehicles manufactured from April 2018 through June 2018 equipped with certain aerial inlet waterway piping.

KME determined that a weld joint on the lower aerial waterway inlet piping may have been welded with an improperly prepared weld joint, which may lead to weld joint failure.  If the weld joint fails while the piping is charged or charging with water, a piece of the piping may detach and be ejected from the vehicle and injure bystanders.

Owners will be notified by mail about the recall and will be instructed to contact their KME Dealer or KME to have the potentially affected piping replaced.  There is no cost to owners for this recall.

Please be reminded that it is a violation of Federal law for you deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment covered by this notification until this defect has been remedied.  Substantial civil penalties apply to violations of this law.

Your assistance with this recall is appreciated. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact KME Customer Service at (570) 669-5230.

 

Sincerely,

KME, Inc.


1 Affected Product

Vehicle

KMEPREDATOR TDA2018

 


7 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-19V189-9654.pdf 245.629KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-19V189-8692.PDF 212.659KB

 


Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-19V189-2569.pdf 135.029KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-19V189-2143.pdf 81.013KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-2

RCLQRT-19V189-1541.PDF 211.124KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-3

RCLQRT-19V189-2493.PDF 211.227KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2019-4

RCLQRT-19V189-0816.PDF 211.311KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=19V189&docType=RCL

 

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