Investigations
HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03017 - closed, opened 2003-04-17.
NHTSA investigation PE03017 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-04-17 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-08-25 - 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 PE03017 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 PE WAS OPENED BASED ON SIX ODI COMPLAINTS THAT HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON, AND TWO ODI COMPLAINTS THAT THE SWITCH IS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO OCCURRENCES OF HEADLAMPS GOING OUT. THE COMPLAI..." 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 PE WAS OPENED BASED ON SIX ODI COMPLAINTS THAT HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON, AND TWO ODI COMPLAINTS THAT THE SWITCH IS HOT TO THE TOUCH. THE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO OCCURRENCES OF HEADLAMPS GOING OUT. THE COMPLAINTS ARE DUE TO SPORADIC DIMMING (FLICKERING) OF THE HEADLAMPS AS A RESULT OF VARIATION OF THE VOLTAGE TO THE HEADLAMPS. GM HAS SHOWN THAT A 1.5 -2.0 VOLTAGE DROP OCCURS WHEN OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES ARE ACTIVATED, HOWEVER AT NO TIME DO THE HEADLAMPS TURN COMPLETELY OFF. WITH RESPECT TO ALLEGATIONS THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS HOT TO THE TOUCH, GM REPORTS THAT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF THE SWITCH IS 35 DEGREES C WHICH IS NOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN A FINGER OR HAND. IN MAY 2001, GM MODIFIED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH CRIMPING OPERATION TO ELIMINATE THE OCCURRENCE OF HOT SWITCHES. ODI EVALUATED THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY RETURNS AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF MELTING OR BURNING. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.