NHTSA Complaint #10263987 — 2004 E-ONE FIRE TRUCK

THE COTTLEVILLE FIRE DISTRICT HAS 4 2004 E-ONE PUMPERS. ALL HAVE REAR SPACERS BETWEEN THE FRAME AND THE U-BOLT THAT HAVE FAILED IN THE SAME MANOR. THE HOLLOW SPACERS HAVE CRUSHED AND COME APART. OUR FIRST TRUCK SUSTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE WHEN THE SUSPENSION SHIFTED AND SHEARED THE AIR RIDE BOLTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SPACERS. ALL FOUR OF THE PUMPERS/ENGINES HAVE HAD THE REAR SUSPENSION SHIFT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE SPACERS. WE ARE FORTUNATE IT WAS CAUGHT BEFORE THE FAILURE CAUSED A CRASH. E-ONE INDICATES THAT THEY HAVE SWITCHED TO USING CAST SPACERS AND ADMITS THAT THE HOLLOW SPACERS WERE A POOR DESIGN, BUT INSIST THEY ARE SAFE TO USE. WE STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THAT POSITION AS ALL FOUR OF OUR TRUCKS SUSTAINED FAILURES OF THE PARTS IN QUESTION. *TR