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Campaign 11V527 Posted November 1, 2011 724 units

2007-2011 Pierce Trucks Recall 11V527: ESC Brake Defect

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 11V527 covers 724 2007-2011 Pierce emergency trucks with ESC modules that can apply a front brake unexpectedly. Free repair at Pierce.

Pierce is recalling 724 2007-2011 Impel, Custom Contender, Velocity, Arrow Xt, Saber, and Quantum emergency trucks equipped with Meritor WABCO electronic stability control modules. Under certain road and driving conditions, the ESC can apply an outer front brake after misreading vehicle stability; if the driver is slow to react, the truck can deviate from its intended line, and the dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The electronic stability control system on 2007-2011 Pierce Impel, Custom Contender, Velocity, Arrow Xt, Saber, and Quantum emergency trucks is supposed to help the driver keep the truck stable. It reads vehicle motion and steering data, then applies brake pressure at individual wheels when it detects a loss of stability.

On these trucks, body roll and road angle can throw off the system's slip angle calculation, which is how the module judges whether the truck is sliding or oversteering. The module can read normal road and driving conditions as an oversteering event. When that happens, it applies the outer front wheel brake until the system believes the truck is stable again.

There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing a driver notices can be the stability control system applying a front brake when the truck does not need that correction.

Who's affected?

Covers six Pierce fire-truck lines across the 2007-2011 model years, all tied to electronic stability control.

2010 Pierce Impel Electronic stability control (esc)
2011 Pierce Impel Electronic stability control (esc)
2008 Pierce Custom Contender Electronic stability control (esc)
2011 Pierce Custom Contender Electronic stability control (esc)
2009 Pierce Velocity Electronic stability control (esc)
Units affected724

A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.

What's the safety risk?

During an ESC intervention, delayed driver reaction can allow the vehicle to move away from its intended line of travel, increasing crash risk. Drive cautiously and contact a Pierce dealer for current repair timing. Repair will be free at any franchised Pierce dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2011 Pierce Impel, Custom Contender, Velocity, Arrow Xt, Saber, or Quantum emergency truck is included in this recall.
  2. Contact Pierce customer service or a franchised Pierce service location to confirm repair timing for your VIN.
  3. Ask for the free Meritor WABCO control-module replacement that corrects the ESC brake intervention problem.
  4. Reference recall number 11V527 when you call, and bring the Pierce owner notice if you have it.
  5. Drive carefully until the repair is complete. Leave extra room and report any unexpected ESC braking behavior to the service desk.

What happens at the repair

Pierce's remedy is to work with Meritor WABCO on the electronic stability control system. At the dealer, a Pierce technician replaces the ESC control module, the part that reads stability data and can command brake intervention. The control module replacement is free of charge. Pierce's filing says the safety recall began on December 16, 2011. If the repair is not already completed on your truck, ask the Pierce service desk to confirm the control module replacement for recall 11V527 and complete the recall work at no cost.

Timeline

November 1, 2011 NHTSA published the recall
December 16, 2011 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 11V527?

Recall 11V527 covers 724 2007-2011 Pierce Impel, Custom Contender, Velocity, Arrow Xt, Saber, and Quantum emergency trucks with Meritor WABCO electronic stability control modules. Under certain road and driving conditions, the ESC system can apply the outer front brake when it misreads vehicle stability.

What should I do if my 2007-2011 Pierce Impel, Custom Contender, Velocity, Arrow Xt, Saber, or Quantum is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency truck is included in recall 11V527. If it is, contact a Pierce service dealer and ask for the Meritor WABCO ESC control module replacement. Reference recall number 11V527 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Pierce will replace the affected Meritor WABCO control module free of charge. Parts and labor are covered through the recall repair path.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is unintended brake intervention from the electronic stability control system. If the driver reacts slowly during that ESC intervention, the truck can move away from its intended travel line, increasing crash risk.

What if I bought the Pierce truck used?

The free recall repair still applies. Ownership history does not remove the manufacturer's recall obligation. Check your VIN to confirm whether the truck is included, then give recall number 11V527 to the Pierce service dealer.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V527000
Pierce customer service1-248-435-8001
NHTSA recall #11V527
NHTSA recall # (full)11V527000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →