Hearth Record

Equipment (KME)

Vehicle recall 20V-006. NHTSA received Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.’s report on Jan 8, 2020.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.’s report on Jan 8, 2020. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

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.

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.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Equipment.

What should you do?

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.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: 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.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 6 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Each model year opens its own page: every recall naming it, its owner complaints and its crash ratings.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • KME Firestix20172015and 2012, 2013 and 2014, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt. Owners’ complaints are counted on each vehicle’s page.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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