Investigations
CRANKSHAFT FAILURES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04046 - closed, opened 2004-06-04.
NHTSA investigation PE04046 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-06-04 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-10-29 - 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 PE04046 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 PE WAS OPENED BASED ON REPORTS OF FAILING CRANKSHAFTS ON HEAVY TRUCK ENGINESS AND A RELATED SERVICE LETTER (PS50663) ISSUED BY CATERPILLAR. THE SERVICE LETTER MAKES AVAILABLE A PHASED-IN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A REPLA..." 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 PE WAS OPENED BASED ON REPORTS OF FAILING CRANKSHAFTS ON HEAVY TRUCK ENGINESS AND A RELATED SERVICE LETTER (PS50663) ISSUED BY CATERPILLAR. THE SERVICE LETTER MAKES AVAILABLE A PHASED-IN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A REPLACEMENT CRANKSHAFT, BASED ON MILEAGE. ODI IS CONCERNED THAT A FAILED CRANKSHAFT MAY RESULT IN A DISABLED (STALLED) 80,000 POUND VEHICLE. ODI ALSO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT VEHICLE CONTROL, GIVEN THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BE DISABLED, IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN. DURING THE PE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE ENGINES MAY CONTINUE TO OPERATE, BUT WITH DRAMATICALLY REDUCED POWER AND POSSIBLE ADVERSE AFFECTS ON VEHICLE (STEERING) CONTROL. ODI IS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE'S HIGH FAILURE RATE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH TIME IN SERVICE. ODI IS AWARE THAT MANY OF THE ENGINES ARE REACHING THE POINT OF BEING OVERHAULED, HOWEVER, IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT AFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL FUTURE CRANKSHAFT FAILURES. CATERPILLAR HAS DETERMINED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURES TO BE GRINDER BURN,WHICH RESULTS IN A CRACK AT THE # 1 OR # 6 CONNECTING ROD FILLET. THIS CRACK IS NOT VISIBLE DURING A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT. IN SUMMARY, A HEAVY VEHICLE WITH LIMITED OR NO MOBILITY AND POSSIBLY COMPROMISED STEERING CONTROL IS OF CONCERN TO ODI AND MORE SO IF HAZERDOUS MATERIALS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED. THEREFORE, ODI HAS UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION TO GAIN A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SAFETY IMPACT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI WILL BE CONTACTING FLEETS AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
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.