The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·13V214000·Announced 2013-05-17

Pierce Emergency Vehicles Recalled for Door Handle Spring Defect

Pierce is recalling 2007-2013 Velocity, Impel, and Dash CF emergency vehicles because door handle springs may be too weak to prevent doors from opening in a crash.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (door retention) that increases the risk of injury in a crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is recalling certain model year 2007-2013 Velocity, Impel, and Dash CF emergency vehicles manufactured between June 6, 2007, and May 31, 2013. The recall addresses a defect in the springs within the outer door handles, which are not stiff enough to prevent the doors from opening inadvertently during certain impacts. As a result, these vehicles do not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 206 regarding door locks and retention components.

In the event of a crash, the weak springs may allow the doors to open, potentially failing to contain emergency personnel or equipment. This condition increases the risk of injury to the occupants. The affected vehicles include the Velocity and Impel models from 2007 through 2013, and the Dash CF model from 2011 through 2013.

Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door handle spring with a stiffer one at no charge. The recall began on June 28, 2013, and Pierce's internal recall number is 74B242. Owners can contact Pierce at 1-920-832-3000 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 for more information.

The recalled product

Product
PIERCE VELOCITY, IMPEL, DASH CF
Brand
PIERCE
Manufacturer
Pierce Manufacturing
Category
Vehicle — Emergency Vehicles
Hazard
Affected units
2,006

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 (3)

  • VELOCITY
  • IMPEL
  • DASH CF

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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