Investigations
FUEL HOSE LEAKS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03004 - closed, opened 2003-01-27.
NHTSA investigation PE03004 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-01-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-07-09 - 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 PE03004 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: "THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A POLICE REPORT RECEIVED BY NHTSA ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2002 CONCERNING A VEHICLE CRASH THAT RESULTED IN TWO FATALITIES. IT WAS ALLEGED, THAT A TRUCK-TRACTOR (WITH A DETROIT ENGINE) WITH A LE..." 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
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A POLICE REPORT RECEIVED BY NHTSA ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2002 CONCERNING A VEHICLE CRASH THAT RESULTED IN TWO FATALITIES. IT WAS ALLEGED, THAT A TRUCK-TRACTOR (WITH A DETROIT ENGINE) WITH A LEAKING FUEL HOSE SPRAYED DIESEL FUEL (FOR SEVERAL MILES) ON A WET ROAD SURFACE PRIOR TO THE CRASH EVENT. THE DIESEL FUEL MIXED WITH THE ROAD SURFACE WATER, RESULTING IN A VERY SLICK ROAD CONDITION AND THE FATAL VEHICLE CRASH EVENT. ODI FIELD ACTIVITY INDICATED THAT FUEL HOSE ABRASION IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON CERTAIN 60 SERIES DETROIT DIESEL ENGINES. AS A RESULT OF THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, DETROIT DIESEL HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFTEY RECALL CAMPAIGN AND REROUTE THE FUEL HOSE ON 52,830 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH THE 6104 AND THE 6106 SERIES ENGINE. THE ACTION TAKEN BY DETROIT IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. A COPY OF THE SAFTEY RECALL IS ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, 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.