Recall 20V487 covers 38 2015-2021 Kme fire apparatus vehicles with overbright Code 3 rear lights. Kme dealers provide the free filter kit.
Kme is recalling 38 2015-2021 fire apparatus, including the Predator SS Rescue and Commercial Pumper, because certain Code 3 stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights are too bright. The glare can affect other drivers' vision and increase crash risk; Kme dealers will correct the lights free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected part is the Code 3 7x9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED lamp used on certain 2015-2021 Kme fire apparatus, including Predator and Commercial models. One lamp assembly handles stop, tail, turn signal, and reverse lighting, so other drivers can tell when the vehicle is braking, turning, backing up, or running with its rear lights on. The lamp needs to be bright enough to signal clearly without dazzling nearby drivers.
On these vehicles, the lamp output is too high. According to the lamp manufacturer, the lamps do not meet the required lighting standard, and Kme's recall says the excessive brightness can affect the vision of other drivers. The issue is corrected with a filter kit that brings the lamps back within the permitted light-intensity range.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner is not expected to see a flicker, outage, or dashboard alert before the lamp is found to be out of specification.
Who's affected?
Spans pumper, tanker, rescue, aerial, chassis, skid, and wildland fire apparatus across the 2015-2021 model years, all tied to exterior lighting.
| 2017 Kme Predator SS Rescue | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2016 Kme Predator Panther Aerial | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Kme Commercial Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Commercial Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Predator SS Aerial | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Predator SS Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Predator Panther Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Predator SS Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Kme Commercial Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Commercial Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Commercial Wildland | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Commercial Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Commercial Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Commercial Wildland | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Kme Predator Panther Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Kme Predator SS Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Predator SS Rescue | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Predator SS Rescue | Exterior lighting |
| 2019 Kme Predator SS Aerial | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Kme Predator SS Aerial | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Kme Commercial Rescue | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 Kme Commercial Skid | Exterior lighting |
| 2021 Kme Predator SS Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Kme Predator SS Rescue | Exterior lighting |
| 2017 Kme Predator SS Chassis | Exterior lighting |
| 2016 Kme Commercial Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2015 Kme Commercial Tanker | Exterior lighting |
| 2020 Kme Commercial Pumper | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 38 |
| 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?
Excessive brightness can affect other drivers' vision and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before the glare becomes a hazard, so treat this as a visibility problem for traffic around the vehicle and schedule the filter kit repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Kme dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2021 Kme Predator SS Rescue, Predator Panther Aerial, Commercial Pumper, Predator SS Aerial, Predator SS Pumper, Predator Panther Pumper, Commercial Tanker, Commercial Wildland, Predator Panther Tanker, Commercial Rescue, Commercial Skid, or Predator SS Chassis is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Kme dealer for instructions to obtain the free Code 3 filter kit that reduces the over-bright stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights.
- Call Kme customer service at 1-800-235-3928 with questions, and reference recall number 20V487 when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if Kme mailed one, or give the dealer the VIN and recall number 20V487.
- Avoid unnecessary use of the affected exterior lights until the filter kit is installed; excessive brightness can affect other drivers' vision.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, Kme service staff will direct you to contact Code 3 for the filter kit, Part No. CZ0199, used with the affected stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights. The filter kit is provided at no cost under the recall. If you already paid to correct this lighting issue before the notice, Kme directs owners to contact Kme for reimbursement. Keep any repair invoice or proof of payment with your service paperwork when you call.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 18, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| October 2, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 5, 2020 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 5, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 9, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V487?
Recall 20V487 covers 38 2015-2021 Kme fire and rescue vehicles with certain Code 3 exterior lights that exceed the allowed brightness level. The excessive brightness can affect other drivers' vision and increase crash risk. Kme dealers will direct owners to a free Code 3 filter kit.
What should I do if my 2015-2021 Kme vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Kme vehicle is included in recall 20V487. If it is, contact a franchised Kme dealer and reference recall 20V487. The dealer will instruct you on getting the free Code 3 filter kit for the affected exterior lights.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the remedy at no cost. For recall 20V487, Kme dealers will instruct owners to contact Code 3 for the free filter kit, listed in the remedy as Part No. CZ0199.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is glare from exterior lights that are too bright. The affected Code 3 stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights exceed the allowed light output, which can affect the vision of other drivers and increase crash risk.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall began on October 9, 2020, so the remedy is available. If your VIN is included, call a franchised Kme dealer with recall 20V487. Owners can also contact Kme customer service at 1-800-235-3928 for recall support.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V487000 |
|---|---|
| Kme customer service | 1-800-235-3928 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V487 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V487000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →