Recall 19V223 affects 4 2017-2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle vehicles for brake lights that illuminate without braking. Repair is free at any franchised Hackney dealer.
Hackney is recalling 4 2017-2018 Emergency Vehicle units equipped with Whelen brake lights because the lights can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed. That false signal can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk, and Hackney dealers will complete the free repair.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The brake lights on the 2017-2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle are rear exterior lights tied to the brake pedal. Their normal job is simple: when the driver presses the pedal, the lights turn on and tell traffic behind the vehicle that it is slowing or stopping.
On affected vehicles, certain Whelen brake and tail light units can receive transient voltage on the input line. That means a brief stray electrical signal reaches the light circuit. With the specific wiring used on the vehicle, that signal can turn the brake lights on even when the brake pedal has not been pressed.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver would notice the problem only if the brake lights are seen illuminated while the vehicle is parked or moving without brake pedal input.
Who's affected?
Both model years list the same brake-light component.
| 2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle | Brake lights |
|---|---|
| 2017 Hackney Emergency Vehicle | Brake lights |
| Units affected | 4 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Brake lights that illuminate at the wrong time can send the wrong signal to drivers behind the vehicle. That confusion increases crash risk. There is no warning sign before this happens, so schedule the dealer repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Hackney dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Hackney dealer to schedule the free brake-light replacement that fixes lights that illuminate without brake-pedal input.
- Bring the recall notice if Hackney mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V223 when you call.
- Drive with extra care until the brake-light replacement is complete, since incorrect brake-light illumination can confuse other drivers.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Hackney technician replaces the affected Whelen brake lights covered by recall 19V223. The replacement lights and labor are free under the recall. Hackney has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid out of pocket for the same brake light repair before the recall work was performed. Bring repair paperwork and payment documentation to the service desk, or contact Hackney customer service at 1-800-763-0700, extension 2016, to ask how to submit a claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 21, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 18, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| April 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| April 25, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V223?
Recall 19V223 covers 4 2017-2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle units equipped with Whelen brake lights. The brake lights can illuminate when the brake pedal has not been pressed, which can confuse other drivers and increase crash risk. Hackney dealers will replace the lights.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Hackney Emergency Vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency vehicle is included in recall 19V223. If it is, contact a Hackney dealer to schedule the brake-light replacement. Reference recall 19V223 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Hackney dealers will replace the affected brake lights free of charge, and the recall repair has been available since April 25, 2019.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is confusing other drivers behind the emergency vehicle. If the brake lights illuminate when the driver has not pressed the brake pedal, nearby drivers get the wrong signal about slowing or stopping, which increases crash risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V223000 |
|---|---|
| Hackney customer service | 1-800-763-0700 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V223 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V223000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →