2011 PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER Recalls, Complaints & Safety

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Defect Description

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 EQUIPP... Read more

Consequence

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.

59 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Defect Description

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, ... Read more

Consequence

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.

724 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Defect Description

PIERCE IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 ARROW XT, CUSTOM CONTENDER, DASH CF, IMPEL, SABER, AND VELOCITY EMERGENCY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 24, 2011, THROUGH APRIL 19, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A CUMMINS ISB, ISX, ISC, OR ISL DIESEL ENGINE. THE V-BAND CLAMP ASSEMBLY, PART NUMBERS Q187684, Q1... Read more

Consequence

IF THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS DISCONNECT, HOT EXHAUST GASES CAN VENT PRIOR TO EXITING THE TAILPIPE, CREATING THE RISK OF COMBUSTION AND A FIRE. IF BOTH CLAMPS FAIL, THERE IS A RISK IN SOME APPLICATIONS THAT THE DOC/DPF HOUSING MAY DETACH COMPLETELY, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD.

Remedy

PIERCE IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED CUMMINS DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 10, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-812-377-5000 OR PIERCE AT 1-920-832-3000.

18 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING

No complaints found for this vehicle.

Technical Service Bulletins, 2011 PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER

2 manufacturer communications from 2 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	1
060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	1

060000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

As a product improvement, Pierce will be changing coolant probes from a contact probe to a capacitive sensor.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The GEN 1 Husky 3 foam pump from FSC is being discontinued. To keep supporting our customers, a conversion kit is available to install the GEN 2 Husky 3 foam pump in place of the GEN 1.

NHTSA Safety Investigations, PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2006

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

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 fighti... Read more

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2007

RPM's surging during pump mode

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).Read more

PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER across all model years (2000, 2011).

27 Total Recalls

1 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

1 Reported Crashes

0 Reported Fires

1 Reported Deaths

PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2011 (current)	3	0
2010	3	0	View
2009	4	0	View
2008	5	0	View
2007	2	0	View
2006	2	0	View
2005	1	0	View
2004	1	0	View
2003	2	0	View
2002	1	0	View
2001	2	1	View
2000	1	0	View

Other PIERCE Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
75' ALUMINUM LADDER	0	0	View
AERIAL PUMPER	0	0	View
ARROW	0	0	View
ARROW XT	0	0	View
COMMERCIAL	0	0	View
CONTENDER	0	0	View
CONTENDER BIG BLOCK	0	0	View
CUSTOM CHASSIS	0	0	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

2011 PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER

Technical Service Bulletins, 2011 PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER

PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER - All Years Overview

PIERCE CUSTOM CONTENDER - Year by Year

Other PIERCE Models