NHTSA Investigation PE11006

Fuel Tank Straps Fail due to Corrosion

On February 28th 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-006) on certain Pierce fire trucks for fuel tank straps that fail due to corrosion; allowing the fuel the tank to drop from the vehicle.Pierce determined that some fire trucks may be exposed to winter road de-icing chemicals. Over a period of time the fuel tank straps may corrode. This corrosion will weaken the fuel tank straps causing the strap(s) to fail/fracture and allow the fuel tank to separate from the vehicle. If the tank were to drop on the roadway while the vehicle was in motion, the vehicle may stall and lose power. In addition, other surrounding vehicles, trying to avoid the fire truck and or the loose fuel tank may lose control. The danger of a loose fuel tank, spilling its fuelonto the road is also a concern.If either or both of these conditions were to take place, a crash could occur.Pierce's safety recall (11V-385) is an inspect-and-repair campaign.To reduce the risk of failed tank straps, Pierce is making available to all consumers stainless fuel tank straps upon an inspection of the existing ones.If corrosion is found, Pierce will replace the old corrosion prone fuel straps with new stainless straps.The vehicles included in this safety recall are: certain Arrow XT, Dash, Custom Contender, Lance, Enforcer, Pierce Arrow, Quantum, Saber & Commercial fire apparatus models manufactured between January 2, 1995 and January 21, 2008.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed.See NHTSA recall 11V-385.

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.