2008 Pierce Custom Contender Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2008 Pierce Custom Contender has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,074 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12V523000 2012-10-31 9 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

The surge can cause a fluctuation in water pressure from the fire hose and could result in personal injury.

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.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11V527000 2011-11-01 724 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

IF THE DRIVER IS SLOW TO REACT DURING THIS ESC INTERVENTION, THE VEHICLE MAY DEVIATE FROM THE INTENDED LINE OF TRAVEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

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.

STRUCTURE 10V300000 2010-06-28 25 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

IF THIS OCCURS THE FIRE HOSE MAY DROP TO THE ROADWAY WITHOUT WARNING. POTENTIAL INJURY TO PEOPLE AND PROPERTY MAY OCCUR. THE SUDDEN HOSE DEPLOYMENT MAY ALSO DISTRACT DRIVERS TRYING TO AVOID THE HOSE AND A CRASH MAY OCCUR.

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 09V389000 2009-10-06 131 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

THIS CONDITION WILL PERMIT HOT EXHAUST GASES TO EXIT THE VEHICLE TAILPIPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF MELTING OR BURNING OF NEARBY SURFACES, OR A FIRE.

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 DURING OCTOBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS (1-800-343-7357) OR PIERCE AT…

STEERING 09V203000 2009-06-08 185 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

WITH A BROKEN SAS DRIVING TAB, THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

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.

Defect investigations

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Investigation EA11008 Opened 2011-06-27 · closed 2012-11-09

Engine RPM's surging during pumping mode

On January 10, 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-001) based on a Product Improvement Program (PIP) (ODI TSB #10036912) submitted by Caterpillar dated August 18, 2010.The PIP was intended to address engine RPMs that could surge while the fire fighting vehicle was in…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Pierce Custom Contender as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.