Investigations
LUGGAGE STRUT ARM SHORTS CIRCUITS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04048 - closed, opened 2004-06-22.
NHTSA investigation PE04048 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-06-22 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-09-01 - 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 PE04048 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 TO EVALUATE VAN HOOL'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A FIELD SERVICE CAMPAIGN INSTEAD OF A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR STRUT. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD RESULT IN THE..." 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 TO EVALUATE VAN HOOL'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A FIELD SERVICE CAMPAIGN INSTEAD OF A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR STRUT. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE COULD RESULT IN THE STRUT ARM MAKING CONTACT AND SHORTING AGAINST THE MAIN ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX. AS A RESULT OF THE AGENCY¿S INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER, VAN HOOL HAS AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS ODI'S CONCERNS. THE ACTION TAKEN BY VAN HOOL IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. A COPY OF THE SAFETY RECALL IS 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.