2001 Pierce Custom Chassis

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

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