Investigations
ROOF SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03051 - closed, opened 2003-11-04.
NHTSA investigation PE03051 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-11-04 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-01-23 - 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 PE03051 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 REPORT OF A "RAISED' ROOF SEPARATION. THE RAISED ROOFS WERE GLUED IN PLACE TO INCREASE THE CEILING SPACE IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH TO RESPOND TO ODI'S INFORMAT..." 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 REPORT OF A "RAISED' ROOF SEPARATION. THE RAISED ROOFS WERE GLUED IN PLACE TO INCREASE THE CEILING SPACE IN THE VEHICLE. WHILE CONDUCTING THE RESEARCH TO RESPOND TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, QUALITY COACHES DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT EXISTED IN THE INSTALLION PROCEDURE OF SOME VEHICLES, AND THEREFORE A SAFETY RECALL WAS WARRANTED. ODI CONDUCTED SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS WITH QUALITY C OACH AND AGREES THAT THE PROPOSED REMEDY AND IDENTIFIED SCOPE APPEAR TO BE APPROPRIATE. OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND DIRECTED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE DEALERS WILL INSTALL ALUMINUM TRIM WITH SCREWS TO KEEP THE ROOF FROM LOOSENING AND SEPARATING. 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.