Investigations
ALLEGED BRAKE DRAG
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04011 - closed, opened 2004-01-28.
NHTSA investigation PE04011 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-01-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-09-01 - 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 PE04011 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'S ANALYSIS OF THE FIELD PERFORMANCE STATISTICS AND AVAILABLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT A LEAK IN THE RUBBER BAND CHECK VALVE CAUSES PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, DRAGGING BRAKES AND/OR POSES A..." 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'S ANALYSIS OF THE FIELD PERFORMANCE STATISTICS AND AVAILABLE TECHNICAL INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ESTABLISH THAT A LEAK IN THE RUBBER BAND CHECK VALVE CAUSES PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, DRAGGING BRAKES AND/OR POSES AN UNREASONABLE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY. ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY CRASHES, INJURIES, OR DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. IT APPEARS THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION ACTIVITY IS UNLIKELY TO HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SINCE SEALCO HAS CONDUCTED A SERVICE PROGRAM TO REPLACE THE SUSPECT CHECK VALVES IN THE FIELD AND VARIOUS VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS AND SEALCO HAVE INDICATED THAT COMPLAINTS HAVE ABATED. SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR FULL DETAILS.
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.