Investigations
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04012 - closed, opened 2004-02-02.
NHTSA investigation PE04012 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-02-02 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-06-09 - 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 PE04012 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 HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING. THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES. ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRES..." 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 HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING. THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES. ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A HEAT SOURCE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AS WELL AS THE ABSENCE OF NECESSARY VEHICLE LIGHTING. ODI WILL CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THE REPORTED FAILURES AND EVALUATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.
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.