NHTSA Investigation EQ11003

Williams Controls Accelerator Pedals

On April 26, 2011, Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. (Pierce) notified the NHTSA 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 NHTSA'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.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.