NHTSA Campaign Number: 18E101
Manufacturer Kidde Technologies, Inc.
Components EQUIPMENT
Potential Number of Units Affected 5,000

 

Fire Suppression System May Not Discharge

If the fire suppression system does not work as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in the event of a fire.

 

Summary

Kidde Technologies, Inc. (Kidde) is recalling certain Fire Extinguishers, model number 83-133002-500 with part numbers 421220-11 and 421220-12, used in certain fire suppression systems installed in buses and passenger coach vehicles. The actuator of the extinguisher may not function properly, preventing the fire extinguisher from discharging the fire suppression agent.

 

Remedy

Kidde will notify the vehicle manufacturers that purchased the systems, and will inspect the fire extinguishers, replacing any affected piston actuators, free of charge. The recall began January 4, 2019. Owners may contact Kidde customer service at 1-252-237-7004.

 

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.

 

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Kidde Technologies Inc.
4200 Airport Drive NW
Wilson, NC 27896
U.S.A
1/4/2019

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL 18E-101

Dear

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Safety Vehicle Safety Act.

Kidde Technologies, Inc., a Collins Aerospace Systems Company (KT l) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Kidde Automatic Fire Suppression Systems (AFSS) utilizing fire extinguishers manufactured by Kidde-Fenwal, Inc. (Kidde-Fenwal).

 

What is the concern?

The specific component subject to recall is a piston actuator present on select KTI Automatic Fire Suppression Systems, Model Number 83-133002-500. The piston actuator is an electrically fired initiator that causes the fire extinguisher of the AFSS to discharge.

Based on information provided by Kidde-FenwaI, certain fire extinguishers may contain a defective piston actuator, KTI has determined that select piston actuator units in certain batches may not have sufficient force to activate the fire extinguisher. A non-working fire extinguisher may create an increased risk of property damage, serious injury, or death in the event of a fire.

 

Affected Units

The affected piston actuator assembly, P/N 348812, is utilized on the following part numbers (P/N):

Descripion	P/N
KDS-25 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, ABC, GAUGE DOWN	421220-11
KDS-25 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, PURPLE K, GAUGE DOWN	421220-21
KDS.25 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY, ABC, GAUGE RIGHT	421220-12
KDS-25 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY PURPLE K, GAUGE RIGHT	421220-22
KDS-25 VALVE & ACTUATOR REBUILD KIT	424766

 

In addition, only piston actuator assemblies with one of the following batch codes are affected by this issue: 042AJ15, 639M 17 or 467A/17. The batch code is permanently marked on the back of the piston actuator identification label. The batch code is located directly adjacent to month/year marking on the identification label, as shown in Appendix A below.

KTI is not aware of any operating or other conditions or precautions that may make the malfunction more or less likely to occur. KTI is not aware of a prior warning that may occur before the malfunction.

 

Corrective actions

KTI will inspect and replace all affected piston actuators free of charge. Replacement piston actuators have been validated as having the output force needed for activating the fire extinguisher.

 

What do I need to do?

Please contact Thermal Protection Service (TPS), our designated agent in Perris, CA at 1(833) 433 3473 to schedule an inspection of the fire suppression system by a qualified service technician. KTl expects that relevant service technicians will have the necessary parts and instructions for the corrective action starting in January 2019.

The labor time required to inspect is approximately 15 minutes and replace the piston actuator if required is approximately 1 hour. Inspection and any repairs made to the fire extinguisher will be performed at no charge to you.

 

Pre-notification remedies

If you had this repair performed before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of the pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall. If any additional information is needed, please feel free to contact us at (252) 246-8468.

 

Notice regarding leased vehicles

Federal regulations require that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee by first-class mail within ten (10) days of your receipt of this recall notice.

 

Assistance I Complaints

If you need assistance, please contact KTl’s Customer Service Department at (252) 246-8468.

If you believe that KTl has failed or is unable to remedy the defect without charge. or if KTI has failed or is unable to remedy the defect within 60 days of your first attempt to obtain a repair (following the earliest repair date as estimated above), you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-3274236, (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or go to https://safercar.gov.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause your operation, but hope you will appreciate our sincere efforts to demonstrate KTI’s commitment to provide our customers with the best possible product.

Truly yours,

Kidde Technologies. Inc

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Owner Notification Letter

1/4/2019

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCONL-18E101-7845.pdf

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

November 20, 2018

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCAK-18E101-6840.pdf

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=18E101&docType=RCL

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