NHTSA vehicle safety data
2016 KME Airport Refueler Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2016 KME Airport Refueler has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized KME dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2016 KME Airport Refueler. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
NHTSA #17V527000Reported August 28, 2017 · Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp.
Potentially affected: 11 vehicles
Defect description
Kovatch Mobile Equipment Corp. (KME) is recalling certain 2016 Predator Pumper, Predator Rescue, and Airport Refueler vehicles, equipped with certain Dana Spicer steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
Safety consequence
If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
KME will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening as necessary. If the nuts do not become properly secured and aligned after being adequately torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on October 5, 2017. Owners may contact KME customer service at 1-800-235-3928.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Check your 2016 KME Airport Refueler VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your KME Airport Refueler at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a KME VIN