Investigations
INTERMITTENT STOP SIGNAL ARM
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05011 - closed, opened 2005-02-15.
NHTSA investigation PE05011 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2005-02-15 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-06-22 - 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 PE05011 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 PROMPTED BY COMPLAINTS FROM TWO FLEETS ALLEGING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STOP ARMS FAILING DURING COLD, WET WEATHER. STOP ARMS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD, FMVSS 131,..." 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 PROMPTED BY COMPLAINTS FROM TWO FLEETS ALLEGING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE STOP ARMS FAILING DURING COLD, WET WEATHER. STOP ARMS ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD, FMVSS 131, SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI BECAME AWARE OF A NOVEMBER 2004 BLUE BIRD SERVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING MOISTURE ENTERING THE BASE OF THE STOP ARM AND POTENTIALLY PREVENTING THE STOP ARM FROM OPERATING PROPERLY. ACCORDING TO THE BULLETIN, IN EARLY 2004, THE SUPPLIER OF THE STOP ARM, SPECIALITY MFR CO (SMC), ADDED A HEATER DESIGNED TO KEEP THE MICROSWITCH CONTACTS FROM FREEZING AFTER THE INTRUSION OF WATER. ON SOME OF THE EARLY STOP ARMS, THE HEATER WIRES WERE NOT CONNECTED. FIELD INFORMATION INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM EXTENDED TO OTHER SCHOOL BUS FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURERS. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PROBLEM BEGAN IN 2002 AFTER SMC CHANGED THE VENDOR OF THE MICROSWITCHES AND ENDED IN EARLY 2005 WHEN SMC AGAIN CHANGED THE SWITCH VENDOR. AS A RESULT OF ODI¿S INVESTIGATION, SMC HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE MICROSWITCHES THAT ARE USED INTERNALLY TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE SIGN. ALSO, SMC REQUIRES THAT THE SIGN BE INSPECTED FOR AN INTERNAL HEATER AND IT¿S PROPER INSTALLATION. THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR THIS INSPECTION AND REPAIR IS OUTLINED IN THE DEFECT REPORT SUBMITTED BY SMC. A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED. ELEVEN FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURERS HAVE PURCHASED THE SUBJECT STOP ARM. ALL HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY SMC AND WILL BE INDIVIDUALLY FILING A DEFECT REPORT WITH THE AGENCY. THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. 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.