NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE13022
Preliminary Evaluation · Pierce Manufacturing · PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
Parking Brake Failure
On June 20th, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation on 2013 Pierce Arrow fire trucks based on a single Vehicle Owners Questionnaire (VOQ #10512931), which reported five unique allegations of parking brake failures.The VOQ indicated that while the parking brake was activated, the fire trucks unexpectedly started to roll.On July 1st, 2013, an ODI investigator met with Pierce field engineers at an authorized Pierce facility located in Maryland to duplicate the alleged failure.The Pierce field engineers were able to duplicate the issue and pinpoint the failure mechanism.A quarter turn ball valve installed between the glad hands connector and the parking brake can cause a restriction and build up of air pressure in the parking brake circuit.This increased air pressure can prevent the application of the spring-loaded parking brake allowing the truck to roll when the operator believes the parking brake is applied As a corrective action, Pierce will remove the quarter turn ball valve and reconnect the glad hand signal hose into the primary air tank.This Preliminary Evaluation has been closed with a safety recall (13V435).
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.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE13022
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Pierce Manufacturing
- Component
- PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR
- Opened
- Jun 20, 2013
- Closed
- Oct 30, 2013
- Associated recall campaign
- 13V435000
Vehicles named in this investigation
1 model year across 1 model
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.