Investigations
LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04006 - closed, opened 2004-01-13.
NHTSA investigation PE04006 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-01-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-05-13 - 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 PE04006 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: "DURING THE PE, NHTSA GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT THE THROTTLE CONTROL PERFORMANCE OF AEVIT ADAPTIVE CONTROL DEVICES PRODUCED BY EMC AND USED BY HANDICAPPED DRIVERS TO OPERATE VEHICLE THROTTLE AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. ODI OPEN..." 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
DURING THE PE, NHTSA GATHERED INFORMATION ABOUT THE THROTTLE CONTROL PERFORMANCE OF AEVIT ADAPTIVE CONTROL DEVICES PRODUCED BY EMC AND USED BY HANDICAPPED DRIVERS TO OPERATE VEHICLE THROTTLE AND BRAKING SYSTEMS. ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING A CRASH REPORT CONCERNING AN ALLEGED AEVIT SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S DEATH. NHTSA LATER FOUND THAT THE AEVIT THROTTLE CABLE HAD FRAYED RESULTING IN A "STUCK-THROTTLE" CONDITION. BECAUSE THE OPERATOR WAS UNABLE TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING, HE CRASHED, SUSTAINING MINOR INJURIES. HOWEVER, UNABLE TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE, HE DIED OF EXPOSURE BEFORE BEING FOUND TWO DAYS LATER. NHTSA'S TEST CENTER NOTED THAT THE SYSTEM'S THROTTE CABLE HAD FATIGUED DUE TO CABLE DEFORMATION OCCURRING WHILE USING THE VEHICLE'S CRUISE CONTROL AND/OR WHEN DRIVEN BY AN ABLE-BODIED DRIVER. RECALL 04E035 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. WHILE CONDUCTING THE PE, WE ALSO RECEIVED REPORTS ALLEGING AEVIT THROTTLE CABLE ANCHORAGE FAILURES WHERE THE ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP TO, AND REMAIN AT, IDLE REGARDLESS OF OPERATOR THROTTLE INPUTS. RECALL 04E036 ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. WITH EMC'S TWO RECALLS, THIS PE 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.