Kme Predator Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 22 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints across 18 model years of the Kme Predator (2006–2025). The most-complained-about year is 2013.
Pick your Kme Predator model year
What Kme Predator owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The 2013 model year has the most, with 5.
All Kme Predator recalls (22)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Kme Predator, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Spartan Fire, LLC (Spartan) is recalling certain 2023-2026 Gladiator, Metrostar, FC-94, KME Panther, and 2024-2025 Predator vehicles. The actuator lever arm in the cab door latch may bind or become wedged, preventing the door from opening.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the door latches as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 20, 2025. Owners may contact Spartan customer service at 1-517-543-6400. Spartan's number…
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Electrical system: wiring
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2020 Severe Service, Predator, and Spartan MetroStar trucks. In the event of a short circuit or wiring failure, the firmware in the vehicle multiplex system may fail to shut off the output pin, resulting in overloaded electrical circuits.
Remedy: Dealers will work with the equipment manufacturer to update the firmware, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
Model years: 2020
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Parking brake
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Predator, Panther, and Severe Service fire trucks. A defect in the inversion valve may delay park brake engagement, which could allow the vehicle to move unintentionally. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inversion valves as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
Model years: 2021
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Steering
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2021-2022 KME Predator, Panther, and Severe Service fire trucks equipped with Sheppard Steering Gears. The steering gears may have been assembled incorrectly, which can cause the gears to fracture.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the serial numbers and replace the steering gears, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 3, 2022. Owners may contact KME's customer service at…
Model years: 2021
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Fuel rail (fuel system)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Predator and 2020-2022 Severe Service vehicles. The fuel tubes between the fuel rail and the injectors for cylinders four, five, and six may fatigue and crack, which can result in a high pressure fuel leak.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tubes, and install vibration isolators, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 2022. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
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Torque arm (suspension)
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…
Remedy: 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.
Model years: 2017
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Driveshaft (power train) and service brakes
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2011 and 2013-2020 Predator Severe Service, 2015 Predator Panther, 2011, 2013-2014 and 2017-2018 Predator, and 2014 KME commercial cab/chassis firetrucks equipped with optional Telma induction braking systems. The Telma axial retarder braking mechanism may separate from the…
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the mounting hardware on axial retarders and replace any incorrect hardware, free of charge. This recall is expected to begin July 2020. Owners may contact KME customer…
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Cables (electrical system)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Predator Custom, Predator Panther, Predator Severe Service, and 2016-2019 Commercial Cab/Chassis vehicles. An electrical short circuit can occur due to a build-up of corrosion between the positive battery jumper stud and the retaining ring for the stud.
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will clean the jumper studs, connection surfaces, and connections. Additionally, the connection surfaces and wire terminals will then be sealed with a silicone electrical sealant.…
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Equipment
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2017 KME Predator TDA, 2016-2018 KME Predator SS TDA, and 2018 KME Predator SS Aerial emergency vehicles equipped with an aerial ladder and optional tip mounted lifting device. The lifting devices do not meet the specified load rating or safety factor.
Remedy: KME has notified owners, and dealers will replace the tip lifting device, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2018. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
Model years: 2017
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Manual transmission (power train)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2016 Predator SS Tractor Drawn Aerial, Predator SS Aerial, Predator Pumper, Predator Aerial, M114 Tanker, 7600 Tanker, 7600 Pumper, 7400 Tanker, 4400 Pumper, and FDNY Pumper and 2016-2017 Predator SS Pumper and Predator Panther Pumper and 2015-2017 M2 Pumper vehicles.…
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the transmissions, free of charge. The recall began on October 11, 2016. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3926.
Model years: 2016
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Equipment
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2016 KME Predator and KME 2016-2107 Predator Severe Service and Panther emergency vehicles, equipped with pumps to provide pressurized water to aid in fighting fires. These pumps have 6" intake strainers that may have been improperly soldered during production and, as…
Remedy: KME will notify owners to check the strainer for missing solder at the joints. Any strainers missing solder will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 14, 2016. Owners may contact KME customer service…
Model years: 2016
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Door (structure)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Predator Severe-Service vehicles manufactured September 2, 2011, to September 20, 2013. The cab door latch retaining hardware may loosen, preventing the cab door from closing properly and allowing the cab door to open unexpectedly while moving.
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cab door latch hardware, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2016. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3926.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Predator emergency vehicles manufactured from May 19, 2014, through August 15, 2015, equipped with K gearboxes manufactured by Hale Products, Inc. The affected gearboxes may shift out of gear from "road" to "neutral" while the vehicle is in transit.
Remedy: KME will notify owners. The existing gearbox will be inspected and, where necessary, a replacement gearbox will be ordered and installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on April 8, 2016.…
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Axle assembly (power train)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2016 Predator and Severe Service vehicles manufactured May 8, 2015, to October 1, 2015, and equipped with certain drive axles manufactured by Marmon-Herrington. The affected axles are equipped with hex nuts on the flange yoke that may not have been properly tightened.
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hex nuts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3926.
Model years: 2016
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Suspension: front
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Predator emergency vehicles manufactured January 23, 2013, to January 28, 2015. The affected vehicles have front independent suspension assemblies that may have loose ball joints which could separate causing a loss of steering control.
Remedy: KME will notify owners, and dealers will correct the ball joint installation, free of charge. The recall began on October 30, 2015. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3926.
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Seat belts
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (Kovatch) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Predator and 2014 Panther fire fighting vehicles manufactured October 2013 to March 2014, and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle,…
Remedy: Kovatch will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 24, 2015. Owners may contact Kovatch at 1-800-235-3926. Kovatch's number…
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Steering
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (Kovatch) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Predator, Predator SS, Panther; 2010-2011 ARFF; and model year 2010-2013 Panther II emergency vehicles. The grease fitting in the steering column shaft may get caught in the column cover. The grease fitting could tear the cover which will impact the…
Remedy: Kovatch will notify owners and dealers will remove the grease fitting, free of charge. The safety recall began on May 20, 2013. Owners may contact Kovatch at 1-570-669-5173. Kovatch's recall campaign number is 2013-E01.
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Air (parking brake)
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (Kovatch) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Predator, Predator SS, Panther, and model year 2011 Panther II emergency vehicles manufactured February 1, 2011, through February 28, 2013. These vehicles are equipped with Meritor axle assemblies that were built with disc brakes using MGM J24 series air…
Remedy: Kovatch will notify owners and will replace the actuators as needed, free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin in May 2013. Owners may contact Kovatch at 1-570-669-5132.
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Electronic stability control (esc)
Kovatch mobile equipment corporation (kme) is recalling certain 2010-2011 predator, predator ss, predator panther, and predator xl emergency vehicles manufactured from march 1, 2010 through october 10, 2011, equipped with feature code 04azx meritor wabco electronic stability control (esc) units. Under certain road and driving…
Remedy: Kme will notify owners, and dealers will install a new esc module free of charge. The recall began on june 5, 2012. Owners may contact kme at 1-570-669-5154.
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Engine and engine cooling
Kovatch (kme) is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 predator pumper fire trucks and 2011 5500 rescue fire trucks manufactured from april 2010 through march 2011, equipped with a cummins isx or isl diesel engine. The v-band clamp assembly, part numbers q187684, q187685, and q187686, used to connect the inlet and outlet cone…
Remedy: Kme is working with cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized cummins dealers free of charge. The safety recall began on october 10, 2011. Owners may contact…
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Engine and engine cooling
Kovatch mobile equipment corp. (kme) is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 predator model emergency vehicles manufactured from october 15, 2007 through november 23, 2009, and equipped with detroit diesel series 60 engines. The software on these engines may cause the engine to shut down unexpectedly when a diesel particulate…
Remedy: All customers with affected vehicles have been contacted by daimler trucks and repairs will be performed by detroit diesel. Please see daimler trucks/detroit diesel's defect report 10e-005. The safety recall began on…
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Check valve (service brakes)
Kme is recalling 122 my 2006-2007 predator and severe service pumper, aerial and tda fire trucks. A check valve was omitted from the secondary supply port of the bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valve.
Remedy: Dealers will add a check valve to the secondary supply port of the sr-7 spring brake modulating valve and will also repair the sr-7 valve by applying a check valve repair kit as required for the bendix safety recall…
Other Kme models
- Predator Aerial3 complaints
- Renegade Fire Engine2 complaints
- Aerialcat1 complaints
- Ariel Cat1 complaints
- Commercial Rescue1 complaints
- Panther1 complaints
- 7600 Tanker0 complaints
- Aerial Fire Apparatus0 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.