Investigations
FUEL TANK SYSTEM
NHTSA Defect Petition DP02003 - closed, opened 2002-04-03.
NHTSA investigation DP02003 is a Defect Petition opened on 2002-04-03 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2002-06-13 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Defect Petition like DP02003 starts when a person or group formally asks NHTSA to investigate a specific alleged defect. Petitioners submit evidence, NHTSA reviews it within 120 days, and either grants the petition (opening a PE) or denies it with a written explanation in the Federal Register.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "MR. JERE L. BEASLEY, AN ATTORNEY WILL BEASLEY, ALLEN, CROW, METHVIN, PORTIS & MILES, P.C. IN MONTGOMERY, AL, PETITIONED NHTSA ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002, TO VACATE ITS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH GENRAL MOTORS CORPORATION FOR EA..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
MR. JERE L. BEASLEY, AN ATTORNEY WILL BEASLEY, ALLEN, CROW, METHVIN, PORTIS & MILES, P.C. IN MONTGOMERY, AL, PETITIONED NHTSA ON FEBRUARY 27, 2002, TO VACATE ITS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH GENRAL MOTORS CORPORATION FOR EA92-041 AND TO ORDER AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF THE 1973-1987 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS THAT HAVE THE FUEL TANK MOUNTED OUTBOARD OF THE FRAME RAILS. ON MARCH 7, 1995, THE FORMER SECRETARY OF THE U.S. DOT, FEDERICO PENA, SIGNED A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH GM RESOLVING NHTSA'S DEFECT INVESTIGATION, EA92-041, INVOLVING AN ALLEGED FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY DEFECT IN MODEL YEAR 1970-1991 C/K PICKUP TRUCKS. SECRETARY PENA CONCLUDED THAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND BEST FURTHERS DOT'S INTEREST IN VEHICLE SAFETY. NHTSA SUBSEQUENTLY CLOSED IT DEFECT INVESTIGATION. THE SETTLEMENT ALLOWED THE PARTIES TO AVOID TIME-CONSUMING, COSTLY LITIGATION OF A COMPLEX MATTER THAT RAISED DIFFICULT FACTUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES, AND OFFERED AN OPORTUNITY FOR MEANINGFUL COOPERATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY TO SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVING PUBLIC. THE PETITIONER HAS NOT PROVIDED INFOMATION, DIFFERENT IN KIND FROM THAT CONSIDERED BY THE AGENCY IN THE PAST, THE LEADS US TO CONCLUDE THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE REOPENED. THERFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.
About This Investigation Type
A Defect Petition (DP) is initiated when an individual or organization formally petitions NHTSA to investigate a potential safety defect. NHTSA reviews the petition and decides whether to open an investigation.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.