2002 Pierce Custom Chassis Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V470000
Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING
Manufactured Begin Date: December 20th, 2001
Manufactured End Date: December 31st, 2006
Date of Owner Notification: October 29th, 2007

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH AN INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION, A PITMAN ARM MIGHT FRACTURE UNDER SEVERE LOAD CAUSED BY THREE LOADING CONDITIONS. IN ALL CASES, THE FRONT AXLE MUST BE TURNED FULL LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE (1) SIMULTANEOUSLY BACKING UP AND BRAKING HARD, (2) DRIVING ONE WHEEL OVER OR AGAINST A CURB OR (3) STEERING THE FRONT AXLE FULL LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH THE SERVICE BRAKE APPLIED. THESE ARE ALL LOW OR NO -SPEED EVENTS.

Consequence Summary:
SUCH A BREAK COULD LEAD TO THE SUSPENSION LOSING ONE OF ITS ANCHOR POINTS, THEREBY POTENTIALLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL PITMAN ARMS WITH PITMAN ARMS MADE OF HIGHER STRENGTH MATERIAL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PIERCE AT 920-832-3000.

Recall Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V567000
Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING
Manufactured Begin Date: July 16th, 2002
Manufactured End Date: August 30th, 2004
Date of Owner Notification: January 25th, 2005

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN FIRE TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL WHEEL STEER OPTION, THE POSITION OF THE FRONT AXLE IS SENSED BY AN OPTICAL ENCODER MOUNTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT AXLE KINGPIN, WHICH IS PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS BY AN OUTER CASE. THIS CASE SHARES A COMMON GREASE CAVITY WITH THE KINGPIN. OIL THAT LEACHES FROM THE GREASE CAN MIGRATE THROUGH THE ENCODER SEAL, CAUSING CONTAMINATION OF THE OPTICAL ENCODER DISC.

Consequence Summary:
OIL ON THE DISC CAN CAUSE THE ENCODER TO SEND INCORRECT WHEEL POSITION INFORMATION AND CAN CAUSE THE REAR WHEELS TO STEER UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENCODERS WITH NEW ENCODERS WITH MORE ROBUST SEALS. THE CONTROL SOFTWARE WILL BE UPDATED TO PRODUCE AN ERROR CODE AND DISABLE THE REAR STEERING FUNCTION IF UNUSUAL ENCODER INPUTS ARE DETECTED. THE RECALL BEGAN JANUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PIERCE AT 1-888-974-3723.

Recall Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V380000
Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING
Manufactured Begin Date: May 14th, 1996
Manufactured End Date: May 15th, 2004
Date of Owner Notification: November 7th, 2003

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN FIRE TRUCKS WITH TANDEM STEER AXLES. THE TRW TIE-ROD ON THE REAR-MOST AXLE OF A TANDEM AXLE IS RESTRAINED FROM ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT BY A PAIR OF ANTI-ROTATION SEALS LOCATED AT THE BALL SOCKET JOINTS. THESE ANTI-ROTATION SEALS WILL COMPRESS OVER TIME. IF THE ANTI-ROTATION SEAL ALLOWS TOO MUCH MOTION, THE SEALS CAN DETERIORATE, ALLOWING CONTACT BETWEEN THE BALL SOCKET AND THE BALL SHAFT. THIS METAL-TO-METAL CONTACT WILL TRANSMIT FORCES INTO THE TIE-ROD TUBE, CAUSING FATIGUE FAILURE INITIATING AT THE ROOT OF THE FEMALE TREADS.

Consequence Summary:
FAILURE OF THE TIE-ROD WILL ALLOW ONE OF THE WHEELS TO SWING TO THE LIMIT OF ITS STEERING STOP, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD. NOTIFICATION TO OWNERS BEGAN NOVEMBER 7, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT PIERCE AT 1-888-974-3723.

Recall Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 02V294000
Manufacturer: PIERCE MANUFACTURING
Manufacturer Campaign Number: 74B41
Manufactured Begin Date: May 1st, 2002
Manufactured End Date: October 15th, 2002
Date of Owner Notification: November 2nd, 2005

Defect Summary:
ON CERTAIN CUSTOM CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH THE ALL WHEEL STEER (AWS) 2002 SYSTEM, THE VEHICLE INTERFACE MOBILE PROGRAM HAS A PROBLEM THAT CAUSES ONE OF THE STEERABLE AXLES TO LOCK IN THE STEERED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURNING TO CENTER.

Consequence Summary:
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE STEERING CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Corrective Summary:
PIERCE IS SENDING A FACTORY TECHNICIAN TO ALL VEHICLES AND WILL UPGRADE THE AWS SYSTEM TO ELIMINATE THIS DEFECT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 2, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT PIERCE AT 920-832-3000.

Recall Notes:
PIERCE RECALL NUMBER IS 74B41ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).