Recall 13V435 affects 22 2012-2013 Pierce Velocity and Arrow Xt emergency vehicles for parking-brake valve plumbing. Repair is free at any franchised Pierce dealer.
Pierce is recalling 22 2012-2013 Velocity and Arrow Xt emergency vehicles because quarter-turn ball valves in the parking brake air system can keep the spring park brakes from applying. The defect can let the vehicle roll unexpectedly and increase the risk of injury or a crash; the Pierce dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The parking brake system on the 2012-2013 Pierce Velocity and Arrow Xt uses air pressure and spring brake chambers to hold or release the parked emergency vehicle. The glad hands are air-line connectors, and the quarter-turn ball valves between those connectors and the parking brake circuit are simple shutoff valves that open or close air flow.
On affected vehicles, those ball valves can be left in the closed position. When that happens, air pressure can remain trapped on the parking brake circuit side instead of venting when the driver activates the parking brake valve in the cab. The spring park brakes depend on that venting step to apply; trapped pressure can keep the brakes from setting.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver can move the parking brake control and expect the vehicle to be secured, while the trapped air prevents the spring brakes from applying.
Who's affected?
Covers both Velocity and Arrow Xt fire trucks from the 2012 and 2013 model years, all tied to the parking brake.
| 2012 Pierce Velocity | Parking brake |
|---|---|
| 2012 Pierce Arrow Xt | Parking brake |
| 2013 Pierce Arrow Xt | Parking brake |
| 2013 Pierce Velocity | Parking brake |
| Units affected | 22 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
An affected vehicle can unexpectedly roll, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash. Until the recall work is complete, treat parking and staging as safety-critical: secure the vehicle before exiting and schedule the repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Pierce dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Pierce Velocity or Arrow Xt is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Pierce dealer to ask whether the parking-brake valve repair is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 13V435 when you call, and ask Pierce customer service at 1-920-832-3000 if the dealer needs help finding the campaign.
- Schedule the free repair that removes the quarter-turn ball valves and reconnects the glad hand signal hose so the parking brake can apply correctly.
- Set the parking brake carefully and chock the wheels when parked until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The listed dealer repair is to remove the quarter turn ball valves between the glad hand connectors and the parking brake system, then connect the glad hand signal hose into the primary air tank. Once the repair is available, a Pierce technician performs that work at no charge under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. For 2012-2013 Velocity and Arrow Xt emergency vehicles, this repair removes the valve position that allowed air pressure to interfere with parking brake application.
Timeline
| September 17, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 20, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V435?
Recall 13V435 covers 22 2012-2013 Pierce Velocity and Arrow Xt emergency vehicles with quarter-turn ball valves installed in the parking brake air system. If the valves are closed, air pressure can prevent the spring park brakes from applying, allowing the vehicle to roll unexpectedly.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Pierce Velocity or Arrow Xt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific emergency vehicle is included in recall 13V435. If it is, contact a Pierce dealer and ask to schedule the parking brake air-system repair. Reference recall number 13V435 or Pierce recall number 74B243 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Pierce dealers will remove the quarter-turn ball valves and connect the glad hand signal hose into the primary air tank free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended vehicle movement after the parking brake is activated. If the ball valves are closed, the spring park brakes can fail to apply as expected, allowing the emergency vehicle to roll and increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash.
When did the Pierce recall repair begin?
The Pierce recall repair began on December 20, 2013. Owners of included vehicles can contact a Pierce dealer to ask whether the repair has already been completed or to schedule the free parking brake air-system repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V435000 |
|---|---|
| Pierce customer service | 1-920-832-3000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V435 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V435000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
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 →