Investigations
HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE CHAFFING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04037 - closed, opened 2004-04-12.
NHTSA investigation PE04037 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-04-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-05-25 - 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 PE04037 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 MARCH 2004, TRACKER MARINE RELEASED A FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISING OWNERS OF MODELS 190, 200, AND 210 PROCRAFT TRAILERS THAT THERE COULD BE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE. TH..." 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 MARCH 2004, TRACKER MARINE RELEASED A FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISING OWNERS OF MODELS 190, 200, AND 210 PROCRAFT TRAILERS THAT THERE COULD BE INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE. THE BULLETIN ADVISED THE DEALER TECHNICIANS TO INSPECT, STRAIGHTEN, AND SECURE THE BRAKE HOSE AWAY FROM THE FENDERS. LEFT UNREPAIRED, CONTACT BETWEEN THE FENDER AND THE BRAKE HOSE COULD RESULT IN THE FENDER RUBBING A HOLE INTO THE BRAKE HOSE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF TRAILER BRAKES. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH TRACKER MARINE, THEY AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL AND NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. A COPY OF THE RECALL 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.