Pierce Custom Contender Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint across 12 model years of the Pierce Custom Contender (2000–2011). The most-complained-about year is 2001.
Pick your Pierce Custom Contender model year
What Pierce Custom Contender owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The 2001 model year has the most, with 1.
All Pierce Custom Contender recalls (10)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Pierce Custom Contender, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
-
Software (electrical system)
Pierce is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 Contender fire trucks manufactured from December 26, 2006, through March 28, 2008, equipped with a Caterpillar C9 engine due to an engine software problem which can cause the engine's RPM's to surge while in pump mode.
Remedy: Pierce has already remedied all of the affected vehicles by updating the engine software, therefore, owner notifications will not be sent. Owners may contact Pierce at 1-920-832-3000.
-
Door (structure)
Pierce manufacturing (pierce) is recalling certain model year 2005, 2008-2011 arrow xt, custom contender, dash, enforcer, impel, quantum, saber, and velocity 75 foot hal (heavy aluminum ladder) fire apparatus bodies vehicles manufactured from may 17,2005, through october 13, 2011, that may be equipped with dual scba cylinder storage…
Remedy: Pierce dealers will notify owners, and will install a flat reinforcement plate that spans the length of the scba door. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 5, 2011. Owners…
-
Electronic stability control (esc)
Pierce manufacturing (pierce) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 arrow xtand velocity, model year 2008-2011 custom contender, impel, quantum and model year 2009-2011 saber emergency trucks, equipped with meritor wabco electronic stability control (esc) modules, manufactured from december 19, 2007, through october 7, 2011. Under…
Remedy: Pierce is working with meritor wabco and will replace the control module free of charge. The safety recall began on december 16, 2011. Owners may contact meritor wabco at 1-248-435-8001 or pierce at 1-920-832-3000.
-
Engine and engine cooling
Pierce is recalling certain model year 2011 arrow xt, custom contender, dash cf, impel, saber, and velocity emergency vehicles manufactured from january 24, 2011, through april 19, 2011, equipped with a cummins isb, isx, isc, or isl diesel engine. The v-band clamp assembly, part numbers q187684, q187685, and q187686, used to connect the…
Remedy: Pierce is working with cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized cummins dealers free of charge. The safety recall began on october 10, 2011. Owners may…
Model years: 2011
-
Fuel system, other
Pierce has decided that certain model year 1995-2008 arrow xt, dash, custom contender, lance, enforcer, pierce arrow, quantum, saber and commercial fire trucks manufactured from january 2, 1995, through january 21, 2008, contain a safety defect. These vehicles are equipped with fuel tank straps that may corrode due to winter road salt…
Remedy: For fire trucks that are less than 10 years old, dealers will inspect the fuel tank straps and replace them if necessary with stainless steel straps free of charge. For vehicles that are older than 10 years, pierce is…
-
12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)
Pierce is recalling certain model year 2010 saber and custom contender fire apparatus vehicles manufactured from march 25, 2010, through june 22, 2010. The battery switch positive electrical post may come in contact with the driver seat base reinforcement.
Remedy: Pierce will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on october 7, 2010. Owners may contact pierce at 1-920-832-3000.
Model years: 2010
-
Bumpers (structure)
Pierce is recalling certain model year 2003 through 2009 custom contender, dash, enforcer, impel, lance saber, and velocity fire trucks manufactured from february 20, 2003, through march 27, 2009. These trucks may be equipped with drop-down fire hose trays mounted under the front bumper. The hose tray latch may accidentally open while…
Remedy: A new and improved latch design has been developed and a new hose box incorporating the new latch will be installed free of charge. The safety recall began on october 4, 2010. Owner may contact pierce at 1-920-832-3000.
-
Engine and engine cooling
Pierce is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 fire trucks manufactured between april 1, 2008 and september 30, 2009, equipped with cummins isb cm2150, isc cm2150, isl cm2150, ism cm876, and isx cm871 model diesel engines. The vehicles may be designed with a hard wired, dash-mounted switch that enables the vehicle operator to…
Remedy: Pierce is working with cummins to repair the engines. Cummins is conducting this campaign and will provide the remedy free of charge. Please see cummins recall campaign 09e-046. The safety recall is expected to begin…
-
Steering
Pierce is recalling 185 model year 2008 and 2009 custom fire trucks manufactured between january 1, 2008 and may 31, 2009, equipped with meritor wabco steering angle sensors (sas). Internal friction can develop between the sensor gears and the sensor housing as a result of external forces experienced on the vehicle including vibration.…
Remedy: Pierce will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired free of charge. The safety recall began on july 2, 2009. Owners may contact pierce at 1-920-832-3000.
-
Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
Vehicle description: fire trucks equipped with electronic throttle control/accelerator pedals supplied by williams controls industries. The weld attaching the clevis to the plate has insufficient penetration and could allow the clevis to separate from the plate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these pedals. Owner notification began december 10, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
Model years: 2001
Other Pierce models
- Arrow XT10 complaints
- Dash6 complaints
- Impel4 complaints
- Quantum3 complaints
- Saber3 complaints
- Enforcer2 complaints
- 75' Aluminum Ladder1 complaints
- Arrow1 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.