The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The remedy
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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: STEERING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2003 | 0 | 3 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 2004
30 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the steering; PIERCE MANUFACTURING filed 40 campaigns in all.
| 04V610000 28 Dec 2004 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
| 04V579000 9 Dec 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V522000 3 Nov 2004 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V474000 1 Oct 2004 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V448000 20 Sept 2004 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 04V456000 20 Sept 2004 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 04V424000 30 Aug 2004 | VAN HOOL, N.V. |
| 04V401000 12 Aug 2004 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004