Investigations
UNDER-RATED ELECTRICAL FUSE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03056 - closed, opened 2003-12-08.
NHTSA investigation PE03056 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-12-08 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-02-06 - 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 PE03056 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: "IN LATE NOVEMBER 2003, WESTERN RV MAILED OWNERS A LETTER ADVISING THEM OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR HOME TO LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A STALL..." 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
IN LATE NOVEMBER 2003, WESTERN RV MAILED OWNERS A LETTER ADVISING THEM OF AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR HOME TO LOSE ALL ELECTRICAL POWER, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A STALLED VEHICLE WITHOUT LIGHTS. THE LETTER ADVISED THE OWNERS TO REPLACE THE GROUND FUSE WITH A HIGHER AMP VERION THAT WAS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER LETTER. THESE VEHICLES ARE CLASS " A" 40 FOOT MOTORHOMES. AS A RESULT OF THE AGENCY'S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND DISCUSSIONS WITH WESTERN RV, THEY HAVE AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL. THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. A COPY OF THE SAFETY RECALL IS ATTACHED. FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY'S RESOURCES ARE UNWARRANTED.
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.