Investigations
SHUTOFF SOLENOID
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA88012 - closed, opened 1988-01-04.
NHTSA investigation EA88012 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1988-01-04 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-04-01 - 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 EA88012 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: "SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: "THE EFFECT OF THIS FAILURE ONTHE USER IS THAT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUISANCE. IF AN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN,NEITHER THE CONTROLLABILITY OF THE MOVING VEHICLE NOR THE CAPABILITY TOBRING IT..." 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
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: "THE EFFECT OF THIS FAILURE ONTHE USER IS THAT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUISANCE. IF AN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN,NEITHER THE CONTROLLABILITY OF THE MOVING VEHICLE NOR THE CAPABILITY TOBRING IT TO A STOP IS MATERIALLY AFFECTED AND CATERPILLAR DOES NOT FEELTHAT AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN IS SAFETY RELATED."ANALYSIS: WARRANTY DATA OBTAINED DURING THE PE INDICATES CATERPILLARHAS HAD SIGNIFICANT FAILURES OF FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOIDS ON THE SUBJECTENGINES SINCE 1982. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE 1984 5 MECHANICAL AND 5 ELECTRICALCHANGES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY. AN ENGINE SHUTDOWNWITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO BE DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND INCERTAIN SCENARIOS ALLOW THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM TO EXHAUST ITSELF.PROPOSED ACTION: SEND AN IR.===
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.