Investigations
FAN DRIVE UPDATE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE02023 - closed, opened 2002-02-12.
NHTSA investigation PE02023 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2002-02-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2002-03-25 - 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 PE02023 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: "IN OCTOBER 2001, THOMAS BUILT BUSES SENT OUT A VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION (VON) TO BUS OWNERS OUTLINING PROCEDURES FOR THE PROPER ALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE'S FAN DRIVE COMPONENTS. DIRECTIONS IN THE COMMUNIC..." 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
IN OCTOBER 2001, THOMAS BUILT BUSES SENT OUT A VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION (VON) TO BUS OWNERS OUTLINING PROCEDURES FOR THE PROPER ALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE'S FAN DRIVE COMPONENTS. DIRECTIONS IN THE COMMUNICATION REQUIRE THAT THE IDLER PULLEY, BELT TENSIONER, AND THE FAN BELT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. PRESUMABLY, THIS ACTION WAS BEING RECOMMENDED TO ELIMINATE FAN BELT SEPARATIONS WHILE THE BUSES ARE IN SERVICE. A FAN BELT SEPARATION WOULD RESULT IN THE NGINE OVERHEATING AND ULTIMATELY STALLING. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, ODI CONTACTED TWO FLEETS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY HAD SUFFERED DISABLED BUSES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF A FAN BELT FAILURE. ON FEBRUARY 12, 2001, ODI OPENED THIE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES AND THE RATIONALE FOR CONDUCTING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN LIEU OF A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. ON MARCH 15, 2002, THOMAS BUILT FILED A DEFECT REPORT OUTLINING THEIR PLANS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY THE REMAINING OWNERS AND REMEDY THE AFFECTED SCHOOL BUSES. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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.