Investigations
DRIVER DOOR ELECTRICAL FIRE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE02003 - closed, opened 2002-01-09.
NHTSA investigation PE02003 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2002-01-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2002-05-17 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE02003 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "AS INDICATED ABOVE, THE PE DISCLOSED TOTALS OF 32 COMPLAINTS OF DOOR FIRES/THERMAL EVENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND 39 WARRANTY CLAIMS FILED FOR SIMILAR INCIDENTS. NO RELATED REPORTS OF VEHICLE CRASHES OR INJURIES OF..." 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
AS INDICATED ABOVE, THE PE DISCLOSED TOTALS OF 32 COMPLAINTS OF DOOR FIRES/THERMAL EVENTS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND 39 WARRANTY CLAIMS FILED FOR SIMILAR INCIDENTS. NO RELATED REPORTS OF VEHICLE CRASHES OR INJURIES OF ANY TYPE WERE IDENTIFIED. THIS MATTER IS ONE THAT HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND STUDIED BY GM AND CHERRY ELECTRICAL, SUPPLIER OF THE POWER REMOTE SWITCH, FOR SOME TIME. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE IDENTICAL SWITCH WAS INSTALLED IN VEHICLES OTHER THAN THE SUBJECT C/K TRUCKS AND SUBURBAN MODELS AND THAT THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINT DATABASE CONTAINS SUCH REPORTS IN OTHER GM-BUILT VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURTER IS CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT, AND ODI CONTINUES TO HAVE CONCERNS THAT MANY OF THE FIRES OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND UNATTENDED. IN ORDER TO CONDUCT A MORE COMPLETE AND THOROUGH STUDY OF THIS MATTER, THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
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.