Investigations
WHEEL SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04038 - closed, opened 2004-04-12.
NHTSA investigation PE04038 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 2004-05-12 - 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 PE04038 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 JANUARY 2004, TRACKER MARINE RELEASED A FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISING DEALERS OF PROCRAFT NITRO AND TUNDRA MODELS THAT THE SUBJECT WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED TO ACCEPT THE CENTER CAP, WHICH COULD CAU..." 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 JANUARY 2004, TRACKER MARINE RELEASED A FIELD SERVICE BULLETIN ADVISING DEALERS OF PROCRAFT NITRO AND TUNDRA MODELS THAT THE SUBJECT WHEELS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY MACHINED TO ACCEPT THE CENTER CAP, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL'S LUGS TO LOOSEN. LEFT UNCORRECTED THE WHEEL WILL DETACH FROM THE AXLE HUB. ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL FOR WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE TRAILER. AFTER A DETAILED DISCUSSION WITH TRACKER, THEY HAVE INITIATED THREE SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS: 04V-210, 04V-211 AND 04V-212, RESPECTIVELY. ONE RECALL IS FOR THE SINGLE AXLE TRAILERS, ONE IS FOR THE TANDEM AXLE TRAILERS, AND THE FINAL RECALL IS FOR TRAILERS SOLD TO THE MARINE GROUP, A SEPARATE ENTITY OF TRACKER MARINE. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. A COPY OF THE THREE RECALLS ARE ATTACHED. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.