Investigations
TURBOCHARGER FAILURE RESULTS IN FIRE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04026 - closed, opened 2004-03-15.
NHTSA investigation PE04026 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-03-15 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-07-29 - 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 PE04026 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: "THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION LEARNED OF 19 TRANSIT BUS FIRE ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ENGINE TURBOCHARGER WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO OBTAIN SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON T..." 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
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION LEARNED OF 19 TRANSIT BUS FIRE ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ENGINE TURBOCHARGER WAS SUSPECTED AS BEING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO OBTAIN SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE FIRE ALLEGATIONS AND GATHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON THE ENGINE/TURBOCHARGER COMBINATIONS USED ON THESE VEHICLES, AND TO UNDERSTAND THE INFLUENCE OF THE TURBOCHARGER AS A CATALYST FOR THE FIRES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION ODI EXMAMINED SEVERAL BUSES INVOLVED IN FIRES AND HAD A TECHNICAL MEETING WITH DETROIT OFFICIALS. AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INVESTIGATION, DETROIT HAS AGREED TO INITIATE TWO SEPARATE SAFETY RECALLS, EACH HAVING A DIFFERENT REMEDY, TO ADDRESS THE THERMAL EVENT CONCERNS. A COPY OF EACH RECALL IS ATTACHED. SEPARATE SAFETY RECALLS ARE BEING CONDUCTED ON THE TWO SERIES ENGINES, AS THE CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS ARE DIFFERENT FOR THE TWO APPLICATIONS. COPIES OF EACH RECALL ACTION ARE ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION 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.