Investigations
WHEEL SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04016 - closed, opened 2004-02-18.
NHTSA investigation PE04016 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-02-18 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-07-02 - 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 PE04016 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 RESPONSE TO ODI'S JUNE 1, 2004 PE INQUIRY, JAYCO ADVISED ODI OF 58 WHEEL SEPARATION INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN JAYCO PRODUCTS. THREE (3) ARE MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTY-FIVE (55) ARE MODEL YEAR..." 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 RESPONSE TO ODI'S JUNE 1, 2004 PE INQUIRY, JAYCO ADVISED ODI OF 58 WHEEL SEPARATION INCIDENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN JAYCO PRODUCTS. THREE (3) ARE MODEL YEAR 2002-2003 TRAVEL TRAILERS AND FIFTY-FIVE (55) ARE MODEL YEAR 2001-2004 FIFTH WHEEL TOWABLE RVS EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. JAYCO HAS ALSO ADVISED ODI THAT AN ADDITIONAL TWO (2) WHEEL SEPARATIONS OCCURRED DURING JUNE, 2004, FOR AN OVERALL TOTAL OF SIXTY. ODI CONDUCTED A FIELD INSPECTION OF THE JAYCO VEHICLE THAT "LOST" A WHEEL ON JUNE 11, 2004. THE INSPECTION FOUND EVIDENCE OF COATING MATERIAL BETWEEN THE HUB AND WHEEL MOUNTING FACES. FOREIGN MATERIAL SUCH AS COATINGS IN THE WHEEL MOUNTING JOINT CAN COMPROMISE THE ABILITY OF THE NUTS TO MAINTAIN CLAMP AND LEAD TO NUT LOOSENING AND/OR STUD BREAKAGE AND COULD RESULT IN A WHEEL SEPARATION. A WHEEL THAT SEPARATES FROM A VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS POSES A HAZARD TO OTHER USERS OF THE ROADWAY AND CAN AFFECT THE STABILITY AND SAFETY OF THE AFFECTED RV. THIS PE IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
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.