Investigations
BRAKES FAIL TO RELEASE, BUS JACK-KNIFES"
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04003 - closed, opened 2004-01-08.
NHTSA investigation PE04003 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-01-08 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-04-30 - 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 PE04003 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 INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A TRANSIT FLEET, WHICH INFORMED ODI IN NOVEMBER, 2003, THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THEIR HIGH FLOOR ARTICULATING STYLE BUSES. IN THE LETTER, THE FLEET STATED THAT THEY..." 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 INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A TRANSIT FLEET, WHICH INFORMED ODI IN NOVEMBER, 2003, THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THEIR HIGH FLOOR ARTICULATING STYLE BUSES. IN THE LETTER, THE FLEET STATED THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED OVER 50 INCIDENTS WHERE THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE DURING MORNING PULLOUT FROM THEIR PARKING LOCATION. THEY ALLEGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN THREE CRASHES RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMGE AS THE RESULT OF THIS STICKING BRAKE PHENOMENON. THE CRASHES ORIGINATE WHEN THE "MIDDLE" AXLE BRAKES FAIL TO RELEASE AND THE REAR ENGINE VEHICLE "PUSHES" THE MIDDLE AXLE RESULTING IN A JACK-KNIFE CONDITION OF THE ARTICULATED BUS. AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INVESTIGATION, NEW FLYER HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL AND CORRECT THIS CONDITION ON ALL AFFECTED BUSES. THE ACTION TAKEN BY NEW FLYER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, 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.