2008 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 manufacturing (pierce) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 arrow xtand velocity, model year 2008-2011 custom contender, impel, quantum and model year 2009-2011 saber emergency trucks, equipped with meritor wabco electronic stability control (ESC) modules, manufactured from december 19, 2007, through october 7, 2011. Under certain road and driving conditions, vehicle body roll and road inclination characteristics may adversely affect the slip angle calculation of the electronic stability control (ESC) system. This might cause the ESC to perceive an over steering situation and therefore apply the outer wheel brake on the front axle until the vehicle is perceived to be stable.

Risk

If the driver is slow to react during this ESC intervention, the vehicle may deviate from the intended line of travel, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Pierce is working with meritor wabco and will replace the control module free of charge. The safety recall began on december 16, 2011. Owners may contact meritor wabco at 1‑248‑435‑8001 or pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 11V527000 · 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

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 fire trucks manufactured between april 1, 2008 and september 30, 2009, equipped with cummins isb cm2150, isc cm2150, isl cm2150, ism cm876, and isx cm871 model diesel engines. The vehicles may be designed with a hard wired, dash-mounted switch that enables the vehicle operator to inhibit aftertreatment diesel particulate filter regeneration in environments where the operator believes it may be unsafe for elevated exhaust temperatures. Due to an issue with the logic in the ECM software in these engines, the switch may not function correctly, leading the operator to believe that the switch is in "inhibit" mode when it is not.

Risk

This condition will permit hot exhaust gases to exit the vehicle tailpipe, increasing the risk of melting or burning of nearby surfaces, or a fire.

Remedy

Pierce is working with cummins to repair the engines. Cummins is conducting this campaign and will provide the remedy free of charge. Please see cummins recall campaign 09e-046. The safety recall is expected to begin during october 2009. Owners may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels (1‑800‑343‑7357) or pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 09V389000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Pierce is recalling 185 model year 2008 and 2009 custom fire trucks manufactured between january 1, 2008 and may 31, 2009, equipped with meritor wabco steering angle sensors (sas). Internal friction can develop between the sensor gears and the sensor housing as a result of external forces experienced on the vehicle including vibration. If developed friction is great enough, the driving tab of the sas can shear as the driver turns the steering wheel.

Risk

With a broken sas driving tab, the electronic stability control (ESC) will not function properly, which could possibly result in a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Pierce will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on july 2, 2009. Owners may contact pierce at 1‑920‑832‑3000.

Recall number 09V203000 · 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