Investigations
AMBULANCE ALTERNATOR FAILURES
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA04001 - closed, opened 2003-12-23.
NHTSA investigation EA04001 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2003-12-23 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-02-27 - 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 EA04001 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: "ODI INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM WHEN NOTIFIED OF MULTIPLE ALTERNATOR FAN FAILURES BY A WESTERN AMBULANCE FLEET THAT TRAVELLED LONG DISTANCES DURING THEIR CALLS. ODI'S CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN AN ALTERNATOR FAN DISENTEGRATED,..." 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
ODI INVESTIGATED THIS PROBLEM WHEN NOTIFIED OF MULTIPLE ALTERNATOR FAN FAILURES BY A WESTERN AMBULANCE FLEET THAT TRAVELLED LONG DISTANCES DURING THEIR CALLS. ODI'S CONCERN WAS THAT WHEN AN ALTERNATOR FAN DISENTEGRATED, IT WOULD RESULT IN A DISABLED AMBULANCE, WHICH PLACED THE PASSENGERS AT AN INCREASED RISK, SINCE TIMELY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE DELAYED. ODI, WORKING WITH HORTON AND LEECE-NEVILLE, (THE ALTERNATOR MFR) FOUND THAT THE FAN'S COOLING BLADES WERE NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE RPMS INHERENT TO THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF THIS APPLICATION. HORTON IS WORKING WITH THE ALTERNATOR MANUFACTURER PRESTOLITE (LEECE-NEVILLE) TO MODIFIY THE ALTERNATOR SETUP TO BE MORE ROBUST. THE VEHICLES OF CONCERN ARE EQUIPPED WITH A 454 CU IN GASOLINE ENGINE (GM CHASSIS) AND ARE BUILT WITH ALTERNATORS WHICH WERE DESIGNED FOR DIESEL ENGINES, WHICH HAVE A LOWER RPM OPERATING RANGE. HORTON, WITH LEECE-NEVILLE ASSISTNACE, WILL BE PROVIDING THE CORRECT ALTENATORS, APPROPRIATE FOR THIS APPLICATION, TO AMBULANCE OWNERS. HORTON'S SAFETY RECALL SATISFIES ODI'S CONCERNS. THEREFORE THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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.