2015-2020 Kovatch Mobile Equipment Rear LED Lights Too Bright

August 18, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V487000

Rear LED Lights Too Bright/FMVSS 108

The excessive brightness may affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V487

Manufacturer Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.

Components EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Potential Number of Units Affected 38

 

Summary

Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Commercial Pumper and Predator SS Rescue, 2018 Predator Panther Pumper and Commercial Skid, 2018-2020 Predator SS Aerial, 2020 Predator Panther Tanker, 2016 Predator Panther Aerial and Commercial Rescue, 2015-2019 Commercial Tanker, 2018-2019 Commercial Wildland, 2017 Predator SS Chassis and 2018-2021 Predator SS Pumper vehicles equipped with certain Code 3 7×9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights. The lights may be too bright, exceeding the maximum light output allowed which may adversely affect the vision of drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

 

Remedy

KME will notify owners, and dealers will instruct vehicle owners to contact Code 3 to obtain a filter kit (Part No. CZ0199), free of charge. The recall began October 9, 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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October 5, 2020

 

Name
Address
City, State Zip

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 20V487

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 decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2015-2021 KME vehicles manufactured from September 2015 through July 2020.

 

Vehicles included in this recall have All-In-One Stop/Tail/Turn/Reverse LED lamps that are being recalled by their manufacturer, Code 3.  According to the lamp manufacturer, the subject lamps exceed the maximum permissible candela levels specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 at certain test points.  The increased photometric intensity does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS 108 and may adversely affect the vision of following drivers, which could lead to a crash.

 

What are we doing about the problem?

Code 3 is providing a filter kit (Part No. CZ0199) to be installed. The kit will ensure that the lamps perform within the permissible photometric intensity ranges.  The Owner of the vehicle can install the filter kit or can contact their KME Dealer and a technician will install the filter kit for them.  There is no cost to the vehicle owner for the recall remedy. Estimated time for the remedy is 0.5 hours.

 

What should you do? 

Please contact Code 3 at (314) 426-2700 or c3_orders@code3esg.com to obtain a filter kit (Part No. CZ0199).

 

If you need further assistance with this notification, please contact your KME Dealer or KME Customer Service at (570) 669-5230.

 

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: bpolgrean@kmefire.com
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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October 2, 2020

 

SAFETY RECALL NOTICE: 20V487

 

TO: Affected KME Dealers

 

KME decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2015-2021 KME vehicles manufactured from September 2015 through July 2020.

 

Vehicles included in this recall have All-In-One Stop/Tail/Turn/Reverse LED lamps that are being recalled by their manufacturer, Code 3.  According to the lamp manufacturer, the subject lamps exceed the maximum permissible candela levels specified in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108 at certain test points.

 

Code 3 is providing a filter kit (Part No. CZ0199) to be installed. The kit will ensure that the lamps perform within the permissible photometric intensity ranges.  The Owner of the vehicle is being directed to contact Code 3 for the kit and can install the filter kit themselves or can contact their KME Dealer and a technician will install the filter kit for them.  There is no cost to the vehicle owner for the recall remedy. Estimated time for the remedy is 0.5 hours.

 

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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28 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKE	MODEL	YEAR
KME	COMMERCIAL PUMPER	2017-2020
KME	COMMERCIAL RESCUE	2016
KME	COMMERCIAL SKID	2018
KME	COMMERCIAL TANKER	2015-2019
KME	COMMERCIAL WILDLAND	2018-2019
KME	PREDATOR PANTHER AERIAL	2016
KME	PREDATOR PANTHER PUMPER	2018
KME	PREDATOR PANTHER TANKER	2020
KME	PREDATOR SS AERIAL	2018-2020
KME	PREDATOR SS CHASSIS	2017
KME	PREDATOR SS PUMPER	2018-2021
KME	PREDATOR SS RESCUE	2017-2020

 

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8 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2020-4

RCLQRT-20V487-4661.PDF 211.132KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20V487-5253.pdf 90.638KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20V487-1586.pdf 140.312KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20V487-4114.pdf 245.166KB

 

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Noncompliance Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20V487-5243.PDF 219.172KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-1

RCLQRT-20V487-8317.PDF 211.234KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-2

RCLQRT-20V487-9155.PDF 211.317KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2021-3

RCLQRT-20V487-0900.PDF 211.417KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V487&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2025-04-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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