- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Enforcer, Freightliner and Saber vehicles equipped with ECCO Holdings Code 3 7x9 Stop-Tail-Turn Reverse All-in-One LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights. The rear LED lights may be too bright. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- The risk
- The excessive brightness may negatively affect the vision of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will provide a filter kit to be installed in the rear lights, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 26, 2021. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723.
Vehicle safety record
2016 Pierce Saber Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2016 Pierce Saber with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (1) and the brakes (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire and 2 injuries. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in March 2021 for the turn signal. For comparison, the 2015 has 0 and the 2017 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Saber year, for its age
#408 most complained-about 2016 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2016 Pierce Saber problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2016 Pierce Saber recalls 8
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Quantum, Saber, Velocity, and Commercial emergency vehicles equipped with Hale pressure relief valves in the water pumps used for fire fighting. Rings securing the valves may corrode over time after exposure to water, causing the ring to fail and the pressure relief valve to open, reducing the water pressure available for fire fighting.
- The risk
- A reduction in water pressure may hinder fire fighting efforts, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Pierce has notified owners, and dealers will install a remedy kit, free of charge. The recall began on February 9, 2018. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 or Hale Products at 1-800-533-3569. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B287.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity vehicles, equipped with certain Spicer D-Series and E-Series steer axles. The castellated nut on the steer axles may not be properly torqued, allowing the tie rod to loosen.
- The risk
- If the tie rod loosens, it may disconnect from the steering knuckle, causing a complete loss of steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the torque of the castellated nut and tie rod, tightening it as necessary. If the tie rod stud and knuckle on units cannot be sufficiently torqued, the dealer will replace the knuckle and tie rod end assembly, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2017. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-414-832-3000.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity fire trucks manufactured June 29, 2015, to June 30, 2016. The affected vehicles may be equipped with certain C20 and C21 split-shaft transmissions from Waterous. This transmission sends power to the wheels of an emergency response vehicle or power to an add-on unit such as a water pump used for fighting fires. A component within the shift unit may be damaged and as a result, the operator may not be able to switch the power output.
- The risk
- If the power output cannot be changed, once the fire truck arrives at the scene, it may not be able to pump water to aid in extinguishing the fire, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Piece will notify owners, and dealers will remove the shift unit assembly and replace the clevis pin and retaining rings, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B277.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity emergency vehicles manufactured August 4, 2015, to August 24, 2016, equipped with pumps to provide pressurized water to aid in fighting fires. These pumps have 6" intake strainers that may have been improperly soldered during production and, as a result, the strainers may come apart during use, allowing parts of the strainer and debris to enter the pump, possibly damaging the pump.
- The risk
- If the strainer and/or debris enters the pump, and the operator is forced to shut down the pump, reducing firefighting effectiveness, there could be an increased risk of injury.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners to check the strainer for missing solder at the joints. Any strainers missing solder will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 or Hale Products Customer Service Center at 1-800-533-3569. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B272.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Enforcer and Saber emergency vehicles manufactured from March 3, 2014, through February 3, 2016. The clamps on the heater hose may have been improperly installed allowing engine coolant to leak into the passenger compartment.
- The risk
- If coolant leaks into the passenger compartment, it may contact electrical components causing a shorting of circuits and a loss of function of features controlled by those circuits, including loss of power to vehicle which may result in a stall and increase the risk of a crash. The hot coolant may also contact occupants and possibly cause burn injuries.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hose clamp installation. Any improperly installed clamps will be corrected free of charge. The recall began on April 11, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B269.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2016 Arrow-XT, Dash, Enforcer, Impel, Quantum, Saber, and Velocity fire and emergency vehicles manufactured October 13, 2015, to February 9, 2016. The fastener cap over the bearing on the universal joint of the drive shaft may have been improperly tightened.
- The risk
- If the cap was not properly tightened, the cap may detach from the vehicle and become a road hazard. Additionally, the universal joint may separate and the vehicle may not be able to be driven, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will check and correct the tightness of all bolts for the universal joint caps, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2016. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B270.
- The problem
- Pierce Manufacturing (Pierce) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Arrow XT, Velocity, Enforcer, and Saber vehicles manufactured November 20, 2014, to September 29, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with front drive axles whose hex nuts on the flange yoke may not have been properly tightened.
- The risk
- If the hex nuts are not tightened to specification, the driveshaft may disconnect from the drive axle, resulting in a loss of propulsion and increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Pierce will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hex nuts, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 12, 2015. Owners may contact Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723. Pierce's number for this recall is 74B266.
What owners say
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1 complaints about the 2016 Pierce Saber
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
City of dayton fire-rescue firefighters were returning from a fire alarm when they noticed a "burning wires" smell in the passenger compartment of the 2016 pierce saber they were driving. As firefighters were attempting to find a safe location to stop the truck, all of the cab and dash lights began to flicker on and off repeatedly. The passenger compartment of the truck rapidly filled with smoke and the driver/operator had to make an emergency stop with his vision impaired by smoke. As firefighters were exiting...
Read the full complaint
the apparatus, the driver/operator was able to shut the engine down and turn off the electrical power. Firefighters had to remove two panels in the passenger side dash/floorboard to expose the flames. The fire was extinguished with an abc dry chemical extinguisher. Two firefighters were exposed to smoke and toxic gases produced by flaming combustion. Both were evaluated on scene and refused further medical treatment at that time. The flames were seen behind the circuit board/fuse panel, but the heat was conducted through the panel causing damage and discoloration to the front of the board. Subsequent inspection by a pierce certified mechanic (evs fire apparatus) indicated that the fire was caused by electrical arcing caused by a coolant leak in the truck's heater core. He reported that the fluid had penetrated the relay connected to the back of the board that controlled the abs braking system. This case appears to be connected to the national highway transportation safety administration's case #16v148000 as the truck was manufactured in january of 2016, but was never recalled.
Pierce Saber: every year compared
All Saber years2016 Pierce Saber vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Pierce Saber | 1 | 8 | F | |
| 2016 Pierce Arrow XT | 7 | 14 | D | Compare |
| 2016 Pierce Velocity | 1 | 15 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2016 Pierce Saber
Does the 2016 Pierce Saber have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2016 Pierce Saber: turn signal (March 2021); equipment (January 2018); tie rod assembly (September 2017); manual transmission (August 2016) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Pierce Saber?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (1), brakes (1).
How many complaints has the 2016 Pierce Saber had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 28, 2019 and the latest on March 28, 2019. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2016 Pierce Saber a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 14 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Pierce Saber year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Pierce Saber years have the most complaints?
2017 (2), 2016 (1). See every Pierce Saber year compared.
What should I do if my 2016 Pierce Saber has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data