Investigations
FUEL SPURTING
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA87018 - closed, opened 1987-04-22.
NHTSA investigation EA87018 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1987-04-22 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-01-06 - 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 EA87018 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: "ANALYSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON THE WINNEBAGO MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AND HIGH UNDERCARRIAGE TEMPERATURES.ANALYSIS: FUEL RESERVOIR OVERPRESSURE RESU..." 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
ANALYSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURS ON THE WINNEBAGO MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILIARY FUEL TANK AND HIGH UNDERCARRIAGE TEMPERATURES.ANALYSIS: FUEL RESERVOIR OVERPRESSURE RESULTS WHEN THE MOTORHOMES EQUIPPED WITH AUXILIARY FUEL TANKS ARE EXPOSED TO HIGH UNDERCARRIAGE TEMPERATURES WITHOUT A MODIFIED FUEL CAP AND EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CARBON CANISTER. THE EXISTING COMPONENTS MAY NOT REDUCE THE FUEL PRESSURIZATION THAT CAN RAPIDLY BUILDUP FROM THE LARGE SURFACE AREA OF THE PRIMARY FUEL TANK. OPERATING THE VEHICLE FROM THE AUXILIARY FUEL TANK WITH THE PRIMARY TANK FULL COMPOUNDS THE PROBLEM. HIGH UNDERCARRIAGE TEMPERATURES INCREASE THE FUEL VAPORIZATION.STATUS: WINNEBAGO HAS RECALLED THE SUSPECT VEHICLES TO ALLOW VENTING THE OVER PRESSURE (87V-155). CLOSED 1/6/88. #===
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.