Investigations
STRICK SEMI TRAILER HUB FAILURES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03027 - closed, opened 2003-06-30.
NHTSA investigation PE03027 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-06-30 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-11-12 - 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 PE03027 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: "ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A FLEET COMPLAINT WHERE INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED INDICATING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAILING AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE. IN 29 CASES THESE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN A WHEEL END..." 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
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A FLEET COMPLAINT WHERE INFORMATION WAS FURNISHED INDICATING THAT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE FAILING AT AN UNUSUALLY HIGH RATE. IN 29 CASES THESE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN A WHEEL END FIRE OR A WHEEL SEPARATION. DURING THE INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH "LOW MAINTENANCE" WHEEL ENDS. DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY ODI INDICATE THAT WIDESPREAD CONFUSION EXISTED IN THIS INDUSTRY CONCERNING MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. THE ISSUES WERE: FREQUENCY OF MAINTENANCE, AMOUNT OF GREASE TO BE USED, AND PROPER METHOD OF INSPECTION. SEVERAL MEETINGS WERE HELD INVOLVING THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, (ARVINMERITOR), LUBRICATION MANUFACTURER (MOBIL), SEVERAL TRAILER MANUFACTURERS AND FLEETS. CURRENTLY ODI HAS DATA WHICH INDICATES THAT 255 TRAILERS FROM A CERTAIN BUILD PERIOD HAVE WHEEL ENDS FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN "PEER TRAILERS" WITH THE SAME WHEEL ENDS. ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE WHY THE ONE GROUP IS FAILING AT A HIGHER RATE THAN OTHERS WITH THE SAME WHEEL ENDS. IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER, ODI WILL BE CONTACTING THE AXLE MANUFACTURER, THE BEARING AND GREASE MANUFACTURERS, FLEETS AND WILL FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE WITH STRICK DIRECTLY.
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.