NHTSA Complaint #10671053 — 2007 PIERCE IMPEL

THE DRIVER OF THE FIRE TRUCK REPORTED THAT THE TRUCK WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO MARTIN COUNTY FIRE RESCUE FLEET SERVICES SHOP. IT WAS CONFIRMED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TAK4 STEERING SYSTEM, BALL JOINTS. THE BALL JOINTS WERE REMOVED FROM THE TRUCK AND FOUND THAT THE BALL JOINT LUBE FOR LIFE COATING WAS BREAKING AWAY FROM THE BALL JOINT CAPS, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE BALL JOINT, GOUGES IN THE METAL ON THE BALL JOINT, AND ONE BALL JOINT WAS TURNING INSIDE THE CONTROL ARM INSTEAD OF ITS OWN CUP. THIS TRUCK HAD BALL JOINT ISSUES AT THE DATE OF DELIVERY AND HAS HAD TIRE WEAR ISSUES THE ENTIRE TIME IT HAS BEEN IS SERVICE. MULTIPLE REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE PIERCE DEALER AND PIERCE FIRE TRUCK CORPORATION IN REFERENCE TO OUR FOUR IMPEL TRUCK'S TIRE WEAR AND DRIVABILITY. DURING A MEETING AT THE PIERCE FACTORY, PIERCE ENGINEERS REPORTED TO US THAT THEY WOULD UPGRADE OUR TAK4 BALL JOINTS WITH A NEW DESIGN AND SHIM THE CAMBER ANGLE TO IMPROVE OUR DRIVABILITY AND TIRE WEAR. TO DATE PIERCE HAS NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH ON THEIR UPGRADE PROMISE. AT THIS POINT OUR SHOP HAS HAD TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL THE UPGRADED DESIGN BALL JOINTS AND CONTROL ARMS IN THIS TRUCK. WE HAVE FOUR OTHER TRUCKS WITH TAK4 SUSPENSION THAT HAVE THESE BALL JOINTS. SINCE THE REPAIR ON THIS TRUCK WE HAVE TWO MORE TRUCKS WITH FAILED BALL JOINTS, THEY ARE IN WORSE CONDITION THAN THE BALL JOINTS DESCRIBED ABOVE. WE ARE AWARE OF THE CURRENT TAK4 RECALL THAT INVOLVES 135 TRUCKS AND FEEL OUR TRUCKS SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE TAK4 FRONT BALL JOINTS THAT DO NOT HAVE THE UPGRADED BALL JOINTS SHOULD BE RECALLED. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THESE REPAIRS. I HAVE CONTACTED OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTY AND THEY ALSO HAVE TAK4 SUSPENSION WITH THE SAME BALL JOINT FAILURES. [XXX], MARTIN COUNTY FIRE RESCUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*TR