Swing Drives Not Properly Lubricated – 2017 & 2012-2015 Emergency Response KME 55 FT Firestix Aerial Devices

January 8, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V006000

Swing Drives Not Properly Lubricated

If the swing drive’s internal gears become damaged or start seizing, uncontrolled movement of the ladder can occur, increasing the risk of an injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V006

Manufacturer Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 6

 

Summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling one 2017 and certain 2012-2015 Emergency Response KME 55 FT Firestix Aerial Devices. The swing drives may not contain lubricating oil, which can cause the internal gears to become damaged and cause seizing.

 

Remedy

KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the swing drives and rebuild them if they do not contain the lubricating oil, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2020. 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.

 

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February 18, 2020

 

Name
Address
City, State Zip

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 20V006

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 2012-2015 and 2017 KME FireStix vehicles manufactured from June 2011 through November 2017.

Some KME Firestix aerials may have been shipped without lubricating oil in the swing drive.

The swing drive is a gearbox with a pinion that rotates the aerial by means of a hydraulic motor.  The gearbox is supposed to contain lubricating oil to reduce friction and protect internal gears from corrosion.  If the swing drive was not filled with lubricating oil, the internal gears could be damaged potentially leading to seizing.

This may affect the operation of the unit on the fire ground.  If the aerial ladder traverses in an uncontrolled movement, the ladder is at risk of striking objects potentially endangering fire fighter’s safety.

 

What are we doing about the problem?

The population will be inspected by KME or its Dealers to verify if the swing drives contain lubricating oil.  If they do not, the swing drives will be sent to the manufacturer to be repaired at no cost to the owner.  Estimated time for inspection is 2-4 hours.  If required, the estimated time for repairs is up to 16 weeks.

 

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 at (570) 669-5230.

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.

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February 18, 2020

 

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 20V006

 

TO: Affected KME Dealers

KME has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2012-2015 and 2017 KME FireStix vehicles manufactured from June 2011 through November 2017.

Some KME Firestix aerials may have been shipped without lubricating oil in the swing drive.

The swing drive is a gearbox with a pinion that rotates the aerial by means of a hydraulic motor.  The gearbox is supposed to contain lubricating oil to reduce friction and protect internal gears from corrosion.  If the swing drive was not filled with lubricating oil, the internal gears could be damaged potentially leading to seizing.

Owners will be notified by mail about the recall and will be instructed to contact their KME Dealer or KME to have their swing drives inspected to verify the swing drives contain lubricating oil.  If they do not, the swing drives will be sent to the manufacturer to be repaired at no cost to the owner.  Estimated time for inspection is 2-4 hours.  If required, the estimated time for repairs is up to 16 weeks.

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.

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5 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
KME	FIRESTIX	2012-2015, 2017

 

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8 Associated Documents

ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V006-9567.pdf 134.65KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V006-6676.pdf 244.76KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V006-7209.PDF 213.594KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20V006-4849.pdf 81.455KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2020-2

RCLQRT-20V006-2557.PDF 211.221KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-1

RCLQRT-20V006-7574.PDF 211.126KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-3

RCLQRT-20V006-6016.PDF 211.304KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V006-4030.PDF 211.413KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V006&docType=RCL

 

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1 Associated Investigation

Aerial Turntable Failures
NHTSA ID: PE19016
Dated opened: November 12, 2019

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Preliminary Evaluation on KME fire trucks that are equipped with Kraft Hydraulics turntables for their aerial apparatus.

ODI received 2 consumer complaints alleging their vehicle’s aerial turn table was supplied from the manufacture without lubrication. This lack of lubrication caused the gear boxes that rotate the aerial platform to fail. When inspected, it was discovered that some of the turntable internal gears had seized and other gearbox internals were severely corroded and pitted due to lack of lubrication.

If the aerial ladder traverses in an uncontrolled movement, the ladder is at risk of striking objects potentially endangering fire fighter’s safety.

A Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to determine the frequency of this failure mechanism and understand the conditions that might influence this malfunction on the subject vehicles.

The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at:https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 1089324 and 11206194

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Last update on 2026-05-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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