The 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.
The 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.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
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 | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2003 | 0 | 3 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Pierce Custom Chassis | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
Other suspension recalls in 2007
21 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the suspension; PIERCE MANUFACTURING filed 40 campaigns in all.
| 07V546000 29 Nov 2007 | BRAUN CORPORATION |
| 07V536000 27 Nov 2007 | KIDRON, INCORPORATED |
| 07V518000 6 Nov 2007 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 07V502000 25 Oct 2007 | SALEEN, INC. |
| 07V505000 25 Oct 2007 | GOSHEN COACH |
| 07V316000 24 Jul 2007 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 07V327000 20 Jul 2007 | SILVER EAGLE MANUFACTURING |
| 07V308000 16 Jul 2007 | FLEETWOOD ENTERPRISES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007