Investigations
U-BOLT/FRAME INTERFERENCE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03036 - closed, opened 2003-07-29.
NHTSA investigation PE03036 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-07-29 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-10-01 - 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 PE03036 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: "OVERBILT'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INQUIRY PROVIDED NO ADDITIONALLY COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS. AN ODI FIELD VISIT PROVIDED A DETAILED INSPECTION AND EXPLANATION OF HOW THE 20-TON SUSPENSION WAS DESIGNED AND WORKED. THERE I..." 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
OVERBILT'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S INQUIRY PROVIDED NO ADDITIONALLY COMPLAINTS OR WARRANTY CLAIMS. AN ODI FIELD VISIT PROVIDED A DETAILED INSPECTION AND EXPLANATION OF HOW THE 20-TON SUSPENSION WAS DESIGNED AND WORKED. THERE IS A FIXED CLEARANCE (0.05") BETWEEN THE U-BOLTS AND FRAME. THE U-BOLTS THAT CLAMP AROUND A CENTER TUBE ARE 1.08" IN DIAMETER. THE SUSPENSION (U-BOLT) IS ALLOWED A MINIMAL RANGE OF ROTATION AROUND THE CENTER TUBE. THE U-BOLTS WOULD NOT CONTACT THE FRAME DUE TO NORMAL ROTATION ALONE, HOWEVER SHOULD THE CENTER TUBE OR FRAME FLEX, CONTACT IS POSSIBLE. FIELD EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT THIS CONTACT HAS NOT CAUSED SUDDEN, CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. OVER TIME, DEFORMATION OF THE U-BOLT AND/OR FRAME MAY OCCUR. SHOULD THIS CONTINUE, THE DRIVER, DURING THE DAILY VEHICLE PRE-TRIP INSPECTION, WOULD PUT THE VEHICLE OUT OF SERVICE BEFORE A RISK TO HIGHWAY SAFETY DEVELOPS. THEREFORE ODI HAS DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. 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.