Investigations
SEAT SEPARATION FROM THE BASE IN A CRASH
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04024 - closed, opened 2004-03-11.
NHTSA investigation PE04024 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-03-11 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-07-06 - 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 PE04024 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 OPENED ON MARCH 11, 2004, BASED ON SEVEN CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THE SEAT PORTION OF THEIR REAR FACING INFANT CAR SEAT SEPARATED FROM ITS BASE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFOR..." 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 OPENED ON MARCH 11, 2004, BASED ON SEVEN CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THE SEAT PORTION OF THEIR REAR FACING INFANT CAR SEAT SEPARATED FROM ITS BASE IN A MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST, EVENFLO PROVIDED INFORMATION ON AN ADDITIONAL 52 REPORTS THAT INCLUDED 21 INJURIES AND SIX FATALITIES. ODI COMPLAINTS THAT WERE DUPLICATED IN EVENFLO'S RESPONSE WERE REMOVED FROM THE ODI COLUMN IN THE "FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY." ODI CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF THE ODI DATABASE, TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS, REVIEWED REAL-WORLD CRASH EXPERIENCE THROUGH MANUFACTURERS REPORTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, POLICE ACCIDENT REPORTS, AND INSPECTED CRASH SEATS. BASED ON A REVIEW OF THE AVAILABLE DATA, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS ATTACHED.
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.