IllustrationCABIN DOOR LATCHES COME OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE MIDDLE THRU BOLT FOR THE LATCH LOOSENS, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM, AND ALSO CAUSING THE LATCH TO FAIL TO SECURE THE DOOR.
2013 Kme Predator
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Predator years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsCABIN DOOR LATCHES COME OPEN WITHOUT WARNING. THE MIDDLE THRU BOLT FOR THE LATCH LOOSENS, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENING OF THE LATCH MECHANISM, AND ALSO CAUSING THE LATCH TO FAIL TO SECURE THE DOOR.
CABIN DOOR OPENS WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHILE TRUCK IS IN MOTION. THRU BOLT LOOSENS CAUSING THE LATCH TO OPEN.
CABIN DOOR OPENS WITHOUT WARNING, SOMETIMES WHILE TRUCK IS IN MOTION. THRU BOLT LOOSENS CAUSING THE LATCH TO OPEN.
DOOR OPENS WITHOUT WARNING FROM FAILURE OF LATCH MECHANISM TO SECURELY HOLD THE DOOR SHUT. THE THRU BOLT LOOSENS ON ITS OWN.
Official recalls
620V341000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft; Service Brakes
Jun 10, 2020
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 vehicle while it is moving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A retarder that separates from the vehicle may increase the risk of a crash.
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 service at 1-800-678-1910.
Additional source detail variants (2)
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 vehicle while it is moving.
Consequence: A retarder that separates from the vehicle may increase the risk of a crash.
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 service at 1-800-678-1910.
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
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 vehicle while it is moving.
Consequence: A retarder that separates from the vehicle may increase the risk of a crash.
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 service at 1-800-678-1910.
16V263000 · Structure:body:door
May 2, 2016
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the door opens while the vehicle is in motion, the occupants are at an increased risk of injury.
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.
15V632000 · Suspension:front
Oct 8, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A loss of steering control increases the risk of a crash.
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.
14V455000 · Seat Belts
Jul 25, 2014
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, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
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 for this campaign is 2014-SR01.
13V187000 · Steering
May 9, 2013
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 driver's ability to steer the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A sudden loss of steering control may increase the risk of a crash.
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.
13V137000 · Parking Brake:conventional:air
Apr 11, 2013
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 brake chambers. In the affected axles, the brake chambers may leak pressure allowing the parking brake to drag when it is supposed to be released. Brake dragging could lead to overheated brake components.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Overheated brake components could result in a fire.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.