2007 Pierce Custom Contender problems

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Contender fire trucks manufactured from December 26, 2006, through March 28, 2008, equipped with a Caterpillar C9 engine due to an engine software problem which can cause the engine's RPM's to surge while in pump mode.

Risk

The surge can cause a fluctuation in water pressure from the fire hose and could result in personal injury.

Remedy

Pierce has already remedied all of the affected vehicles by updating the engine software, therefore, owner notifications will not be sent. Owners may contact Pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 12V523000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling certain model year 2003 through 2009 custom contender, dash, enforcer, impel, lance saber, and velocity fire trucks manufactured from february 20, 2003, through march 27, 2009. These trucks may be equipped with drop-down fire hose trays mounted under the front bumper. The hose tray latch may accidentally open while the vehicle is in motion.

Risk

If this occurs the fire hose may drop to the roadway without warning. Potential injury to people and property may occur. The sudden hose deployment may also distract drivers trying to avoid the hose and a crash may occur.

Remedy

A new and improved latch design has been developed and a new hose box incorporating the new latch will be installed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 4, 2010. Owner may contact pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 10V300000 · Recall details

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in a water pumping mode.This engine surge could cause significant fluctuations in water pressure being directed onto a fire through a hose.The bulletin states that this condition in conjunction with other factors or circumstances could result in a risk of personal injury or death.Caterpillar's PIP provided information involving the installation of new engine software on certain fire trucks with C9 engines.On June 27, 2011 ODI upgraded its investigation to an Engineering Analysis.No information request (IR) letter was sent to Pierce, instead a field inspection of a Pierce fire truck was conducted.In August 2011 representatives from ODI, the Vehicle Research and Test Center and Pierce conducted an on-site fire truck performance inspection of a complaint vehicle in Sherwood, Arizona.The purpose was to jointly inspect a complaint vehicle that was recently outfitted with updated engine software.The Sherwood fire truck engine was started and remained idling while the fire truck was set in water pumping mode.The representatives were able to witness the effects of the new software with regards to engine surge and verified that the alleged defect did not exist during this vehicle examination.The new engine software corrected the problem of fire hose pressure fluctuations in water being directed onto a fire.It was determined during the course of this investigation that the PIP released by Caterpillar and conducted on Pierce vehicles should be submitted to the federal safety agency as a safety recall.During discussions with the federal safety agency, Pierce was informed that the federal safety agency had authority over the safety of vehicles even when not in highway use.Following these discussions, Pierce agreed the PIP should be released as a safety recall.This Engineering Analysis is closed with a safety recall (12V‑523).

EA11008

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a product improvement program (PIP) (ODI TSB # 10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010. The PIP was for engine RPM's that could surge while in a water pumping mode on 2005 through 2009 Pierce fire trucks equipped with a Caterpillar C9 engine.This engine surge could cause a fluctuation in water pressure that is being directed onto a fire through a hose.The bulletin states that this condition in conjunction with other factors or circumstances could result in a risk of personal injury or death.Caterpillar's product improvement program released information involving the installation of new engine software on the subject vehicles.On April 11, 2011 ODI received Pierce's response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter.Based on the information received, an ODI investigator contacted several fleets and complainants regarding this defect phenomena and everyone contacted expressedconcern related to the inherent danger involved with pressure oscillations in a fire hose.Several fire fighters stated that the frequency of failure even after Software fixes have been performed per the PIP are still happening.In a supplemental IR letter dated May 27, 2011 Pierce identified a total population of 241 vehicles with the C9 engine from MY 2005 - 2008. Pierce also specified that they had 15 unique complaints coupled with 2 complaints from Caterpillar; totaling 17 consumer complaints.These consumer complaints were for MY 2006 through 2008 fire trucks.Pierce had 2 warranty claims while Caterpillar had 19 warranty claims, totaling 21 warranty claims for this investigation.ODI notes that the complaints applied to 5 vehicles and the warranty claims applied to 5 different vehicles (based on VIN).There were multiple complaints or claims on one vehicle in some cases.An ODI investigator spoke with a fire chief in Sherwood, AR who alleged a Caterpillar representative, on several occasions, came to his fire house to fix the problem of engine surge while in water pumping mode.The Caterpillar technician installed several updates to modify the software which communicates with the engine and its fueling strategies (i.e. idle function).Allegedly, after each attempt to fix the problem a fire fighter would alert the fire chief that the problem persisted in spite of constant updates.The result of this malfunction puts fire fighters at risk. ODI is concerned that a fire hose that does nor function properly has safety ramifications to the user of the fire hose and others dependent on its performance.This Preliminary Evaluation is being closed and upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA11-008).

PE11001