2015 Pierce SABER: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2015-03-25 (March 25, 2015)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015 Saber, Enforcer, Impel, and Velocity vehicles manufactured December 4, 2014, to March 23, 2015. The rear axle cast iron leaf spring spacer block may crack and fracture.

Consequence: If the leaf spring spacer block fractures, the pieces may become a road hazard. If the entire spacer block separates from the vehicle, the alignment of the rear axle may suddenly shift. Either condition could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cast iron spring spacer block with a machined steel spring spacer block, free of charge. The recall began on March 23, 2015. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Velocity, Enforcer, and Saber vehicles manufactured November 20, 2014, to September 29, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with front drive axles whose hex nuts on the flange yoke may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence: If the hex nuts are not tightened to specification, the driveshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, resulting in a loss of propulsion and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hex nuts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2015. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B266.

Reported: 2015-11-16 (November 16, 2015)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Arrow XT, Quantum, Velocity, Impel, and Saber fire-fighting vehicles manufactured June 19, 2013, to July 31, 2014. The affected vehicles have fire hose water pressure regulators that may not respond consistently to operator input and, as a result, there may be an unexpected water pressure surge to the fire hose.

Consequence: An unexpected surge in water pressure to the fire hose can increase the risk of injury to the hose operator or those nearby.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will update the water pressure governor firmware, free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B252.

Reported: 2016-03-10 (March 10, 2016)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Enforcer and Saber emergency vehicles manufactured from March 3, 2014, through February 3, 2016. The clamps on the heater hose may have been improperly installed allowing engine coolant to leak into the passenger compartment.

Consequence: If coolant leaks into the passenger compartment, it may contact electrical components causing a shorting of circuits and a loss of function of features controlled by those circuits, including loss of power to vehicle which may result in a stall and increase the risk of a crash. The hot coolant may also contact occupants and possibly cause burn injuries.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hose clamp installation. Any improperly installed clamps will be corrected free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B269.

Reported: 2016-06-01 (June 1, 2016)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity emergency vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 24, 2016, equipped with pumps to provide pressurized water to aid in fighting fires. These pumps have 6" intake strainers that may have been improperly soldered during production and, as a result, the strainers may come apart during use, allowing parts of the strainer and debris to enter the pump, possibly damaging the pump.

Consequence: If the strainer and/or debris enters the pump, and the operator is forced to shut down the pump, reducing firefighting effectiveness, there could be an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners to check the strainer for missing solder at the joints. Any strainers missing solder will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 or Hale Products Customer Service Center at 1-800-533-3569. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B272.

Reported: 2016-08-05 (August 5, 2016)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity fire trucks manufactured June 29, 2015, to June 30, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with certain C20 and C21 split-shaft transmissions from Waterous. This transmission sends power to the wheels of an emergency response vehicle or power to an add-on unit such as a water pump used for fighting fires. A component within the shift unit may be damaged and as a result, the operator may not be able to switch the power output.

Consequence: If the power output cannot be changed, once the fire truck arrives at the scene, it may not be able to pump water to aid in extinguishing the fire, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Piece will notify owners, and dealers will remove the shift unit assembly and replace the clevis pin and retaining rings, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B277.

Reported: 2017-09-14 (September 14, 2017)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity vehicles, equipped with certain Spicer D-Series and E-Series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.

Consequence: If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-414-832-3000.

Reported: 2018-01-11 (January 11, 2018)

Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Quantum, Saber, Velocity, and Commercial emergency vehicles equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.

Consequence: A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Pierce has notified owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 or Hale Products at 1-800-533-3569. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B287.