Recall 19V161 affects 16 2018 Svi Trucks emergency vehicles with brake lights that illuminate incorrectly. Whelen replaces the lights free of charge.
Svi Trucks is recalling 16 2018 Heavy Rescue, Fire Engine, Haz-Mat, Light Rescue, Wildland, and Svi Trucks emergency vehicles because Whelen brake lights can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. The false brake signal can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk; Svi Trucks dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The brake lights on the 2018 Svi Trucks Light Rescue, Heavy Rescue, Fire Engine, Haz-Mat, and Wildland emergency vehicles are supposed to tell traffic behind the vehicle when the driver is braking. Pressing the brake pedal sends an electrical signal to the lights, and the lights should stay off when the pedal is released.
On affected vehicles, Whelen found that transient voltage on the input line can create a false, steady activation of the brake light. That means the brake lights can turn on even when the brake pedal has not been pressed. The condition depends on the vehicle wiring and other installed equipment, so two similar lights do not have a visible physical difference.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the brake light behavior itself: the lights illuminate without braking, which can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk.
Who's affected?
Spans six 2018 Svi Trucks configurations, all tied to the brake lights.
| 2018 Svi Trucks Svi Trucks | Brake lights |
|---|---|
| 2018 Svi Trucks Heavy Rescue | Brake lights |
| 2018 Svi Trucks Fire Engine | Brake lights |
| 2018 Svi Trucks Haz-Mat | Brake lights |
| 2018 Svi Trucks Light Rescue | Brake lights |
| 2018 Svi Trucks Wildland | Brake lights |
| Units affected | 16 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the brake lights come on at the wrong time, drivers behind the vehicle can misread its movement and react incorrectly, increasing the risk of a crash. Drive cautiously and schedule the brake light replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Svi Trucks dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Svi Trucks Svi Trucks, Heavy Rescue, Fire Engine, Haz-Mat, Light Rescue, or Wildland emergency vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Svi Trucks dealer to schedule the free Whelen brake-light replacement that fixes brake lights that illuminate without brake pedal input.
- Call Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 with questions about the brake-light repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Svi Trucks mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V161 when you call.
- Drive with extra space and tell operators the brake lights can illuminate without pedal input until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Svi Trucks technician replaces the recalled Whelen brake lights so they no longer illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed. The brake light replacement is free under the recall. Whelen also reimburses reasonable labor charges for the time needed to replace the recalled brake lights. If you already paid for labor on this repair, submit a detailed labor quote to Whelen with purchase information, the product model number, and product recall number 18E-063, or call Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 30, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
| March 22, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V161?
Recall 19V161 covers 16 2018 Svi Trucks Svi Trucks, Heavy Rescue, Fire Engine, Haz-Mat, Light Rescue, and Wildland emergency vehicles equipped with Whelen brake lights. The brake lights can illuminate when the brake pedal is not pressed, confusing other drivers and increasing crash risk. Whelen will replace the brake lights for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Svi Trucks Svi Trucks, Heavy Rescue, Fire Engine, Haz-Mat, Light Rescue, or Wildland is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency vehicle is included in recall 19V161. If it is, contact Svi Trucks or Whelen customer service at 1-860-718-2331 to arrange the brake-light replacement. Reference recall number 19V161 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost, and this campaign says Whelen will replace the affected brake lights free of charge. The free repair applies to included vehicles regardless of where the emergency vehicle is currently operated.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is false brake-light illumination. If the brake lights turn on without brake-pedal input, drivers behind the emergency vehicle can read the signal incorrectly. That confusion increases crash risk, especially in traffic or while the vehicle is responding, staging, or returning from service.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair became available when the recall began on March 22, 2019. Svi Trucks notified owners, and Whelen handles the brake-light replacement. If your VIN is included and the lights have not been replaced, call 1-860-718-2331 and reference recall 19V161.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V161000 |
|---|---|
| Svi Trucks customer service | 1-860-718-2331 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V161 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V161000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →