Investigations
FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA00015 - closed, opened 2000-05-22.
NHTSA investigation EA00015 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2000-05-22 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2001-01-04 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
An Engineering Analysis like EA00015 is the deeper technical phase that follows a PE. NHTSA requests design, warranty, and field-failure data from the manufacturer, conducts its own testing when needed, and determines whether the evidence supports a safety defect finding that would compel a recall.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "PERIODIC EXPOSURE TO LIQUID GASOLINE MAY RESULT IN EXTRACTION OF ANTIDEGRADANTS FROM THE SUBJECT FUEL TANK VENT HOSE. HOSES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF ANTIDEGRADANT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN AREAS OF HIGH STRAIN. FUEL MAY S..." 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
PERIODIC EXPOSURE TO LIQUID GASOLINE MAY RESULT IN EXTRACTION OF ANTIDEGRADANTS FROM THE SUBJECT FUEL TANK VENT HOSE. HOSES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF ANTIDEGRADANT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN AREAS OF HIGH STRAIN. FUEL MAY SPRAY OR DRIP FROM CRACKED VENT HOSES FOLLOWING TANK FILL. STARTING AT JOB#1 1998 MY (CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS VEHICLES) AND JOB#1 1999 MY (FEDERAL EMISSIONS VEHICLES), THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE COMPOSITION CHANGED FROM NITRILE RUBBER HOSES WITH CHLOROPRENE RUBBER COVERS (NBR/CR) TO FLUORACBON RUBBER HOSES WHICH AN OUTER LAYER BLEND OF NBR/PVC. THE CHANGES WER MADE TO IMPROVE HYDRACARBON RESISTANCE FOR COMPLAINCE WITH NEW EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS. THE MODIFIED HOSES ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESISTANT OT DEGRADATION AND CRACIKING. IN A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 14, 2000, NISSAN NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE IN AFFECTD VEHICLES WITH THE REDESIGNED HOSE. NISSAN WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON FEBRUARY 5, 2001. NISSAN WILL FINISH ITS OWNER MAILINGS ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN REVERSE ORDER OF VEHICLE AGE.
About This Investigation Type
An Engineering Analysis (EA) is the in-depth phase following a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA engineers conduct testing, collect data from manufacturers, and perform detailed technical analysis to determine whether a safety defect exists. An EA may lead to a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or, in rare cases, a mandatory recall order.
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.