Investigations
ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE FAILURE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA03013 - closed, opened 2003-08-13.
NHTSA investigation EA03013 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2003-08-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-03-11 - 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 EA03013 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: "THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TWO ELECTRONIC COOLING FANS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE ENGINE RADIATOR. THE RIALTA MOTORHOME IS BUILT ON A VW EUROVAN INCOMPLETE CHASSIS AND SHARES THE..." 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
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH TWO ELECTRONIC COOLING FANS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE ENGINE RADIATOR. THE RIALTA MOTORHOME IS BUILT ON A VW EUROVAN INCOMPLETE CHASSIS AND SHARES THE SAME ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING FANS AS THE EUROVAN. DATA INDICATES THAT THE COOLING FAN BLADES FAIL PREDOMINATELY ON RIALTA VEHICLES IN MODEL YEARS (MY) 1998 THROUGH 2000. THESE VEHICLES ACCOUNT FOR 77 PERCENT OF THE WARRANTY, FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS FOR ALL MY 1996-2003 RIALTA VEHICLES. ALTHOUGH THE EUROVAN HAS THE SAME COOLING FANS AS THE RIALTA, IT ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY 17 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EUROVAN AND RIALTA REPORTS. IN ITS FEBRUARY 11, 2004 DEFECT REPORT, VW STATED, "THE AFFECTED WINNEBAGO RIALTA VEHICLES DIFFER FROM VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN VEHICLES THAT USE THE SAME COMPONENT DUE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED DUTY CYCLE OF THE COOLING FAN AND SERVICE METHODS THAT MAY AFFECT THE COOLING FAN." RIALTA VEHICLES ARE LARGER AND APPROXIMATELY 1,700 POUNDS HEAVIER THAN EUROVAN VEHICLES, AND THEREFORE THE COOLING FAN CAN SEE INCREASED DUTY CYCLES IN SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS SUCH AS DRIVING IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OR IN STEEP MOUNTAINOUS AREAS. ACCORDINGLY, VW WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE 1998-2000 RIALTA POPULATION TO REPLACE THE COOLING FANS. THE COOLING FANS IN MY 1996 AND 1997 ARE A DIFFERENT DESIGN WITH A SMALLER FAN MOTOR AND BLADE. IN MODEL YEAR 2001 THE ENGINE SIZE WAS INCREASED FROM 140 HP TO 204 HP IN BOTH VEHICLES. THE LARGER ENGINE REDUCES THE DUTY CYCLE OF THE COOLING FAN IN SEVERE OPERATING CONDITIONS. VW WILL ALSO SEND TO OWNERS A WARNING LABEL TO AFFIX TO ALL RIALTA AND EUROVAN VEHICLES. THE LABEL ADVISES TECHNICIANS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO APPLY FORCE ON THE COOLING FANS WHILE SERVICING THESE VEHICLES. VW WILL RECALL 2,563 MY 1998-2000 RIALTA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 138 WARRANTY, FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS FOR THESE VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 04V-107.
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.