2005 Pierce Arrow XT problems

What is wrong

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2004-2018 Arrow XT, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum and Velocity aerial vehicles. The aerial device may unexpectedly rotate to the right when the ladder is being extended.

Risk

If the aerial device moves in an unexpected direction, the ladder may contact an object, such as a building or an electrical wire, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the aerial control module, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1‑888‑974‑3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B295.

Recall number 19V022000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 1999-2013 Arrow XT, Dash, Enforcer, Quantum and Velocity fire trucks equipped with the electric All-steer rear steering option. The affected vehicles have rear steer axle shafts that were not properly heat treated.

Risk

Axle shafts that are not properly heat treated may break and potentially disable the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear steer axle shafts, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed on July 24, 2017. The recall began June 3, 2020. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1‑888‑974‑3723.

Recall number 17V348000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2000-2009 Enforcer and model year 2000-2010 Dash, Lance, and Arrow XT vehicles. While raising or lowering the cab as part of vehicle maintenance, the mounts on which the cab tilt cylinders pivot may fatigue and fail allowing the cab to fall until the safety catch activates.

Risk

If a person is in the path of the moving cab when a mount fails, the person may be hit by the falling cab, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will affix new safety signs advising the operator to stay clear of the cab while it is being tilted, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2014. Owners may contact Pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000. Pierce's recall number is 74B240.

Recall number 13V525000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce manufacturing (pierce) is recalling certain model year 2005, 2008-2011 arrow xt, custom contender, dash, enforcer, impel, quantum, saber, and velocity 75 foot hal (heavy aluminum ladder) fire apparatus bodies vehicles manufactured from may 17,2005, through october 13, 2011, that may be equipped with dual scba cylinder storage compartments. These compartments extend inboard horizontally from the side of the rear body. The scba compartment door latch orientation may have been manufactured incorrectly, allowing the door to accidentally open while the vehicle is in motion. The door may open without warning and without knowledge to the driver.

Risk

If the door opens, the scba cylinders may fall out of the compartment and onto the roadway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury to pedestrians.

Remedy

Pierce dealers will notify owners, and will install a flat reinforcement plate that spans the length of the scba door. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 5, 2011. Owners may contact pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 11V551000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling certain model year 1999-2008 arrow xt, dash, lance, and enforcer fire apparatus manufactured from june 22, 1999, through may 12, 2008, and equipped with an electronic accelerator pedal. After repeated use with excessive force, the accelerator pedal arm may bend and cause the pedal to move closer to the floor. If the pedal arm bends far enough, the pedal may contact the cab floor without warning and stick in the full throttle position.

Risk

If the accelerator pedal becomes stuck, the operator may lose control of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the existing accelerator arm and install a redesigned pedal arm free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about may 9, 2011. Owners may contact pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 11V255000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling certain model year 1998 through 2008 arrow xt, lance, velocity, enforcer, impel, and dash custom fire apparatus vehicles manufactured from may 30, 1998 through november 25, 2008. The steering gear bracket may fracture and break. If this occurs the steering gear may detach from the vehicle.

Risk

Detachment of the steering gear will result in a loss of steering control that could cause a crash.

Remedy

Pierce will notify owners and dealers will install a new steering gear mounting bracket free of charge. The safety recall began on october 12, 2010. Owners are being instructed to inspect the steering gear bracket prior to each trip. The remedy to repair this defect is expected to begin no earlier the january 31, 2011. Owners may contact pierce at 1‑888‑974‑3723.

Recall number 10V423000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain fire trucks, interference may occur between the aerial front axle interlock sensor bracket and the front air brake hose. This condition occurs during full turn steering and full suspension jounce compression.

Risk

This interference may cause chafing leading to a potential front air brake hose failure. In the event of a front brake hose failure, loss of front braking will occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will remove the existing front axle interlock sensor bracket and install a new bracket in a new location avoiding the front axle brake hose. The recall began on october 13, 2005. Owners may contact pierce at 920‑832‑3249.

Recall number 05V355000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain fire trucks equipped with holland/neway air suspension systems, a transverse beam castings may fracture under normal loads. If a casting breaks when the vehicle is traveling on a roadway there is the potential for pieces of the casting to become projectiles and the suspension?s transverse beam may drop down low enough to contact the road surface.

Risk

This will cause sparks that could potentially ignite and cause a fire.

Remedy

Holland is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will inspect and replace the defective transverse beam assemblies free of charge. Owners may contact holland at 616‑396‑6501 or pierce at 1‑888‑974‑3723.

Recall number 05V220000 · Recall details

This Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened August 21, 2018 based on 5 consumer complaints for unintended aerial platform movement on the subject vehicles. ODI complaint numbers 11101301, 11101303, 11101304, 11101305 and 11105134 allege there is a defect with the aerial ladder control mechanism that resulted unintended movement.ODI conducted several field inspections, meeting with local fire houses and municipalities to better understand and witness the alleged defect. In addition, ODI met with Pierce and the Fleet Operations Manager of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service?s Central Fleet to discuss the known complaints, possible attributing factors and vehicles to be tested/instrumented.On November 30, 2018 Pierce met with ODI staff at DOT headquarters and agreed that a safety defect existed on their vehicle aerial devices. The subject vehicles may unintentionally rotate right when a command to extend the aerial ladder is given. This unintentional movement is the result of faulty Random Access Memory (RAM) chip configuration on the aerial ladder controller. If the aerial device is operated in this manner it may contract an obstruction, potentially causing property damage or injury. In addition, it may hinder the ability to perform emergency functions as intended. The effected population includes 886 2004?2018 model year Pierce Arrow XT, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum and Velocity fire trucks.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed with Safety Recall 19V‑022.

PE18009

On February 27th 2015, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE15-008 to investigate front steer wheel separations on 2004 model year Pierce fire trucks (manufactured with TAK-4 independent front suspensions ) caused byball joint failures.The investigation was based on one steering related consumer complaint, three media reports alleging front steer wheel separation incidents, and a service bulletin outlining the maintenance requirements for the ball joints used in the TAK4 suspension.The consumer complaint (ODI #10671053), received on January 8th 2015, alleged a 2007 Pierce TAK-4 equipped fire truck was not steering correctly.The three media reports of Pierce TAK-4 equipped fire trucks that experienced front steer wheel separation events included two in Baltimore, MD (July and August 2014) and a third in Anne Arundel County, MD (December 2014).The technical service bulletin (#355 issued 12/15/2014) was intended to be a reminder for subject vehicle owners to inspect their TAK-4 suspension and ball joints pursuant to Pierce?s published maintenance schedule.The bulletin outlined how improperly maintained subject ball joints could wear or become damaged during normal use and then potentially separate.A diagram of the TAK-4 front suspension (Figure 1) illustrates the location of both ball-joint assemblies on the suspension that connect the wheel spindles to the A-arm assemblies.(Continued on page 2)

PE15008

On April 26, 2011, Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. (Pierce) notified the federal safety agency that it had decided certain Pierce fire trucks, manufactured between June 22, 1999, and May 12, 2008, contain a safety related defect. Pierce stated that certain model year 1999 through 2008 Arrow XT, Dash, Lance, and Enforcer vehicles contain a Williams Controls, Inc. (Williams Controls) suspended electronic accelerator pedal that may become bent after repeated use with excessive force. If the pedal arm bends far enough, the pedal may contact the cab floor without warning and stick in the full throttle position. If the accelerator pedal becomes stuck, the operator may lose control of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash. This issue was assigned recall number 11V‑255.On May 12, 2011, RMD mailed an information request (IR) letter to Williams Controls requesting a list of customers who purchased the same or similar defective accelerator pedals.Williams Controls responded to RMD's IR letter on June 9, 2011 with a list those companies who purchased the same accelerator pedal.The list was submitted to the federal safety agency's Office of the Chief Counsel under a request for confidentiality.Williams Controls' response letter outlined several key points.First, it was noted that these pedals, item number 131507, are generic parts that are purchased by engineering staffs in accordance with their own specifications.According to Williams Controls, Pierce modified their purchased pedals post-purchase and this modification reduced the strength of the accelerator pedal assembly.Also, Williams Controls stated that it has, never had a warranty claim or other notice, other than by Pierce on their modified pedal, due to lever arm permanent deformation for item number 131507.While Williams Controls submitted a list of companies that purchased item number 131507, it noted that it did not sell the same or similar defective pedal assemblies to any company as the subject pedals were modified by Pierce.This Equipment Query is satisfied as, because of modifications not conducted by the pedal manufacturer, the same or similar pedals were not sold to other vehicle manufacturers and no other vehicles should be affected.However, RMD will continue to monitor recall activity to see if any similar issues are found in other manufacturers' vehicles.This EQ is closed.

EQ11003