Investigations
UNSECURED RADIUS ROD LOCKING PLATES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05013 - closed, opened 2005-02-28.
NHTSA investigation PE05013 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2005-02-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-03-17 - 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 PE05013 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 AFTER REVIEWING SERVICE BULLETIN WB04-18, ISSUED BY PREVOST IN DECEMBER 2004 ENTITLED, "INSPECTION OF RADIUS ROD LOCKING TAB PLATES." THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO INSPECT THE SUSPENSION..." 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 AFTER REVIEWING SERVICE BULLETIN WB04-18, ISSUED BY PREVOST IN DECEMBER 2004 ENTITLED, "INSPECTION OF RADIUS ROD LOCKING TAB PLATES." THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO INSPECT THE SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT COACHES TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE LOCKING TABS WERE FOLDED (LOCKED) ON FRONT AND REAR RADIUS RODS. RADIUS ROD FASTENER ( LARGE BOLTS) FAILURES COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED/ UNCONTROLLABLE SUSPENSION AND BODY MOVEMENT AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. PREVOST REPORTED 13 VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE. THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND WAS DISCOVERED DURING A QUALITY CONTROL CHECK. ALL OF THE VEHICLES WERE STILL IN DIRECT CONTROL OF THE FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER AND PREVOST STATES NONE WERE SOLD OR INTRODUCED IN COMMERCE AND ALL WOULD BE CORRECTED PRIOR TO DOING SO. A SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE UNWARRANTED. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. 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.