Recall 21V222 covers 4 2016-2018 Pierce Enforcer, Saber, and Freightliner vehicles for overly bright rear LED lights. Free repair at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
Pierce is recalling 4 2016-2018 Enforcer, Saber, and Freightliner vehicles because their rear LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights are too bright. The glare can affect other drivers' vision and increase crash risk; a Freightliner dealer will complete the free repair, with Pierce handling recall questions.
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What's wrong?
The rear LED lamp on 2016-2018 Pierce Enforcer, Saber, and Freightliner vehicles combines the stop, tail, turn signal, and reverse light functions in one unit. Its job is to show braking, turning, nighttime position, and backing movement to drivers behind the vehicle. Federal lighting rules set brightness limits so those signals are visible without being excessive.
On these vehicles, the Code 3 all-in-one LED rear lamps are brighter than the permitted range under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108. The filing ties the issue to lamps that do not meet the required photometric intensity range, which means the measured light output is above the standard. The remedy adds a filter kit so the lamps perform within the allowed brightness range.
There is no warning sign before failure. The lamp can still light up for braking, turning, tail lamp use, and reverse, so an owner cannot confirm inclusion by looking at the lamp alone.
Who's affected?
The scope is split across tail lights, turn signals, brake lights, and back up lights, with Enforcer, Saber, and Freightliner configurations listed separately.
| 2017 Pierce Enforcer | Back up lights |
|---|---|
| 2016 Pierce Saber | Tail lights |
| 2016 Pierce Saber | Turn signal |
| 2016 Pierce Saber | Brake lights |
| 2016 Pierce Saber | Back up lights |
| 2016 Pierce Freightliner | Tail lights |
| 2016 Pierce Freightliner | Turn signal |
| 2016 Pierce Freightliner | Brake lights |
| 2016 Pierce Freightliner | Back up lights |
| 2018 Pierce Enforcer | Tail lights |
| 2018 Pierce Enforcer | Turn signal |
| 2018 Pierce Enforcer | Brake lights |
| 2018 Pierce Enforcer | Back up lights |
| 2016 Pierce Enforcer | Tail lights |
| 2016 Pierce Enforcer | Turn signal |
| 2016 Pierce Enforcer | Brake lights |
| 2016 Pierce Enforcer | Back up lights |
| 2018 Pierce Freightliner | Tail lights |
| 2018 Pierce Freightliner | Turn signal |
| 2018 Pierce Freightliner | Brake lights |
| 2018 Pierce Freightliner | Back up lights |
| 2017 Pierce Freightliner | Tail lights |
| 2017 Pierce Freightliner | Turn signal |
| 2017 Pierce Freightliner | Brake lights |
| 2017 Pierce Freightliner | Back up lights |
| 2017 Pierce Saber | Tail lights |
| 2017 Pierce Saber | Turn signal |
| 2017 Pierce Saber | Brake lights |
| 2017 Pierce Saber | Back up lights |
| 2018 Pierce Saber | Tail lights |
| 2018 Pierce Saber | Turn signal |
| 2018 Pierce Saber | Brake lights |
| 2018 Pierce Saber | Back up lights |
| 2017 Pierce Enforcer | Tail lights |
| 2017 Pierce Enforcer | Turn signal |
| 2017 Pierce Enforcer | Brake lights |
| Units affected | 4 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
Overly bright rear lights can impair other drivers' vision and increase crash risk. The problem affects traffic behind the vehicle, so drive cautiously and schedule the rear light filter kit soon. Repair is free at any franchised Freightliner dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 Pierce Enforcer, Saber, or Freightliner is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Freightliner dealer to schedule the free rear-light filter-kit repair.
- Ask the dealer to install the filter kit that reduces the overly bright rear LED lights.
- Bring the Pierce owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 21V222 when you call.
- Call Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Freightliner technician installs a filter kit in the rear lights covered by this recall. The repair is free, including parts and labor. The filter kit corrects the rear light issue without charging the owner. If you already paid for this same rear light filter repair, ask Pierce customer service or the service desk about the documentation required under Pierce's general reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 30, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 26, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| April 26, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| April 30, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 5, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V222?
Recall 21V222 covers 4 2016-2018 Pierce Enforcer, Saber, and Freightliner vehicles with rear LED stop, tail, turn, and reverse lights that are too bright. The lights fail to meet the federal lighting standard, and Pierce will provide a rear-light filter kit free of charge.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 Pierce Enforcer, Saber, or Freightliner is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V222. If it is, contact a franchised dealer or Pierce customer service at 1-888-974-3723 to arrange the rear-light filter kit. Reference recall number 21V222 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Pierce will provide a filter kit for the rear lights free of charge through the dealer repair process.
What is the safety risk?
The rear LED lights are too bright and can negatively affect the vision of other drivers. That increases crash risk, especially when another driver is behind the vehicle and looking toward the stop, tail, turn, or reverse lights.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V222000 |
|---|---|
| Pierce customer service | 1-888-974-3723 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V222 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V222000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →