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Campaign 12V027 Posted January 30, 2012 120 units

2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat Recall 12V027: Ladder Control

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 12V027 affects 120 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat fire trucks because the ladder can move unexpectedly. Repair is free at any franchised Kme dealer.

Kme is recalling 120 2003-2011 Aerialcat fire trucks because activating the dead man's switch on the hydraulic turntable can make the electronically controlled aerial ladder move unexpectedly. That movement can leave the bucket operator unable to control the bucket location and increase the risk of injury; the Kme dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The aerial bucket on 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat fire trucks is the elevated work platform attached to the ladder. Its electronic controls let firefighters position the bucket, while the turntable at the base uses hydraulic controls to rotate and move the ladder assembly. The dead man's switch is a hold-to-operate control that is supposed to keep movement under operator control.

On affected trucks, the control setup does not keep the ladder still when the turntable dead man's switch is activated. Instead of simply enabling controlled movement, that switch activation lets the ladder move unexpectedly. Because the bucket and ladder are part of the same aerial assembly, unintended ladder movement changes the position of the platform and the people or equipment on it.

There is no warning sign before failure. An operator should treat unexpected ladder movement after activating the turntable dead man's switch as the defect described in recall 12V027.

Who's affected?

Spans the 2003-2011 model years, with Equipment listed for each Aerialcat year.

2003 Kme Aerialcat Equipment
2011 Kme Aerialcat Equipment
2010 Kme Aerialcat Equipment
2004 Kme Aerialcat Equipment
2006 Kme Aerialcat Equipment
Units affected120

A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific truck.

What's the safety risk?

If the ladder moves unexpectedly, the operator can lose control of the bucket location, increasing the risk of injury. Take any unexpected ladder movement out of service and have the recall repair completed before further ladder operation. Repair will be free at any franchised Kme dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat is included in this recall.
  2. Contact your nearest franchised Kme dealer after Kme confirms the recall repair path for your truck.
  3. Schedule the free repair that corrects the aerial bucket controls so the ladder does not move unexpectedly from the turntable dead man's switch.
  4. Reference recall number 12V027 when you call the dealer or Kme customer service.
  5. Keep operators clear of bucket movement zones until the repair is complete.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Kme technician repairs the trucks free of charge. The source remedy does not name a specific replacement part, so the dealer should address the aerial bucket and turntable control condition tied to unexpected ladder movement when the dead man's switch is activated. Kme reported that owner notification and the free dealer repair began on April 10, 2012. When you call for service, describe campaign 12V027 and the Aerialcat aerial bucket and turntable controls so the service desk can match the truck to the correct recall work.

Timeline

January 30, 2012 NHTSA published the recall
April 10, 2012 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 12V027?

Recall 12V027 covers 120 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat fire trucks with an aerial bucket using electronic controls and a turntable using hydraulic controls. When the dead man's switch on the turntable is activated, the ladder can move unexpectedly. Kme dealers repair the trucks for free.

What should I do if my 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific fire truck is included in recall 12V027. If it is, contact a franchised Kme dealer or Kme at 1-570-669-5154 to arrange the free repair. Reference recall 12V027 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Kme's recall remedy states that dealers will repair the affected trucks free of charge. Federal recall law also requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost to the owner.

What is the safety risk?

The risk is loss of control over the bucket location. If the ladder moves unexpectedly after the turntable dead man's switch is activated, the operator can lose control of where the bucket is positioned, increasing the risk of injury. The dealer repair is free.

When did the Kme Aerialcat recall repair begin?

The safety recall repair began on April 10, 2012. Owners of included 2003-2011 Kme Aerialcat fire trucks can contact a franchised Kme dealer or Kme at 1-570-669-5154 to confirm the repair path and reference recall 12V027.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V027000
Kme customer service1-570-669-5154
NHTSA recall #12V027
NHTSA recall # (full)12V027000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →