2005 Pierce Arrow XT Recalls

This Preliminary Evaluation (PE) was opened August 21, 2018 based on 5 consumer complaints for unintended aerial platform movement on the subject vehicles. ODI complaint numbers 11101301, 11101303, 11101304, 11101305 and 11105134 allege there is a defect with the aerial ladder control mechanism that resulted unintended movement.ODI conducted several field inspections, meeting with local fire houses and municipalities to better understand and witness the alleged defect. In addition, ODI met with Pierce and the Fleet Operations Manager of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service?s Central Fleet to discuss the known complaints, possible attributing factors and vehicles to be tested/instrumented.On November 30, 2018 Pierce met with ODI staff at DOT headquarters and agreed that a safety defect existed on their vehicle aerial devices. The subject vehicles may unintentionally rotate right when a command to extend the aerial ladder is given. This unintentional movement is the result of faulty Random Access Memory (RAM) chip configuration on the aerial ladder controller. If the aerial device is operated in this manner it may contract an obstruction, potentially causing property damage or injury. In addition, it may hinder the ability to perform emergency functions as intended. The effected population includes 886 2004?2018 model year Pierce Arrow XT, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum and Velocity fire trucks.This Preliminary Evaluation is closed with Safety Recall 19V-022.

On February 27th 2015, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE15-008 to investigate front steer wheel separations on 2004 model year Pierce fire trucks (manufactured with TAK-4 independent front suspensions ) caused byball joint failures.The investigation was based on one steering related consumer complaint, three media reports alleging front steer wheel separation incidents, and a service bulletin outlining the maintenance requirements for the ball joints used in the TAK4 suspension.The consumer complaint (ODI #10671053), received on January 8th 2015, alleged a 2007 Pierce TAK-4 equipped fire truck was not steering correctly.The three media reports of Pierce TAK-4 equipped fire trucks that experienced front steer wheel separation events included two in Baltimore, MD (July and August 2014) and a third in Anne Arundel County, MD (December 2014).The technical service bulletin (#355 issued 12/15/2014) was intended to be a reminder for subject vehicle owners to inspect their TAK-4 suspension and ball joints pursuant to Pierce?s published maintenance schedule.The bulletin outlined how improperly maintained subject ball joints could wear or become damaged during normal use and then potentially separate.A diagram of the TAK-4 front suspension (Figure 1) illustrates the location of both ball-joint assemblies on the suspension that connect the wheel spindles to the A-arm assemblies.(Continued on page 2)

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.