The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·11V422000·Announced 2011-08-17

Pierce Emergency Vehicles Recalled for Exhaust Clamp Fire Risk

Pierce is recalling 2011 emergency vehicles with Cummins diesel engines because a T-bolt in the exhaust clamp can fracture, causing hot gases to vent and creating a fire risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where a component failure can lead to a fire, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe rating involving significant injury or property-damage reports/risks.

Plain-English summary

Pierce Manufacturing is recalling certain model year 2011 Arrow XT, Custom Contender, Dash CF, Impel, Saber, and Velocity emergency vehicles manufactured between January 24, 2011, and April 19, 2011. These vehicles are equipped with Cummins ISB, ISX, ISC, or ISL diesel engines. The recall involves the V-band clamp assembly used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC)/diesel particulate filter (DPF).

The defect involves a T-bolt in the clamp assembly that can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. If the T-bolt fails, the clamp may loosen, causing the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect. This disconnection allows hot exhaust gases to vent before exiting the tailpipe, creating a risk of combustion and fire. In some applications, if both clamps fail, the DOC/DPF housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard.

Owners should contact Cummins at 1-812-377-5000 or Pierce at 1-920-832-3000 for information. Repairs will be performed by authorized Cummins dealers free of charge. The safety recall began on October 10, 2011. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
PIERCE SABER, VELOCITY, ARROW XT, DASH CF
Brand
PIERCE
Manufacturer
PIERCE MANUFACTURING
Category
Vehicle — Emergency Vehicles
Hazard
Affected units
18

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (6)

  • SABER
  • VELOCITY
  • ARROW XT
  • DASH CF
  • IMPEL
  • CUSTOM CONTENDER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · PIERCE

Same manufacturer · PIERCE MANUFACTURING

See all →

Same hazard · fire

See all →

Similar recalls