TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:

«DEALER»
Chad Miller – Customer Service: Field Upgrades and Recalls
June 2014
Recall Notice: 14V-243 – IMMI L9 Seat Belt Buckle

VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL DEALER NOTIFICATION – IMPORTANT
The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, provides that each vehicle which is subject to a
recall campaign of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the owner has tendered
it for repair. Failure to repair within sixty (60) days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to
repair within a reasonable time.
If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the owner may be entitled to an identical or
reasonable equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for
depreciation.
To avoid having to provide these burdensome solutions, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an
appointment with each owner and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. As you will see in reading the
attached copy of the letter that is being sent to owners, the owners are being instructed to contact the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration if their dealer does not remedy the condition within a reasonable time.
DEFECT OR NONCOMPLIANCE INVOLVED
Pierce Manufacturing has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Pierce
Arrow XT, Dash CF, Impel, and Velocity custom fire apparatus models manufactured between August, 2013
and January, 2014, equipped with IMMI L9 Seat Belt Buckles.
This decision was based on information provided to Pierce Manufacturing by IMMI.
Certain IMMI seat belt assemblies equipped with L9 buckles do not satisfy the requirements of S4.3 (g) of
FMVSS 209. When the push button on the buckle is pressed to release the latch plate for egress, the
latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle. Under this circumstance, the partially engaged
latch plate may not separate from the buckle when a force of 22N is applied.
The root cause of the noncompliance is associated with the locking pawl (part number 916030) inside the
L9 buckle. Some locking pawls from specific manufacturing lots were produced with an excessively large
burr. The burr on the locking pawl can catch the edge of the latch plate when the button is pressed to
unlatch the buckle, causing a partial engagement condition.
To remedy the issue IMMI will provide replacement parts though Pierce. Installation must be by a certified
technician.
Owners are being asked to contact the nearest authorized Pierce repair facility to schedule an
appointment.
VEHICLES INVOLVED
The vehicles involved were built between August, 2013 and January, 2014.
Involved vehicles have been identified by Pierce job numbers and are listed on the attached report. Computer
listings contain the complete job number, owner name and address data. Owner name and address data will
enable dealers to follow up with owners involved in this campaign. Pierce has identified these vehicles based on
information provided by the supplier, IMMI.
DEALER RESPONSIBILITY
It is the dealer’s responsibility to contact the customers on the attached list and to encourage the apparatus
owner to schedule an appointment for the remedy. Make sure the customer is aware the remedy will be
performed by Pierce without charge.
Sincerely,

Chad Miller
Customer Service: Field Upgrades and Recalls
Pierce Manufacturing
2600 American Drive, Appleton, WI 54912-2017 • (888) 974-3723 FAX (920) 832-3353