Investigations
CRACKED OR BROKEN WHEELS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05025 - closed, opened 2005-05-11.
NHTSA investigation PE05025 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2005-05-11 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-09-26 - 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 PE05025 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 RESPONSE TO THE PRODUCT FAILURES THAT PROMPTED ODI TO INITIATE INVESTIGATION PE05-025, DOUBLETREE RV HAS FILED DEFECT NOTICE 05V-425 THAT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A PRODUCT RECALL TO REPLACE CERTAIN 16" CHROME PLATED STEEL..." 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 RESPONSE TO THE PRODUCT FAILURES THAT PROMPTED ODI TO INITIATE INVESTIGATION PE05-025, DOUBLETREE RV HAS FILED DEFECT NOTICE 05V-425 THAT PROPOSES TO CONDUCT A PRODUCT RECALL TO REPLACE CERTAIN 16" CHROME PLATED STEEL WHEELS THAT WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 2005 AND APRIL 30, 2005 IN APPROXIMATELY 142 2005 MODEL YEAR FIFTH WHEEL RECREATIONAL VEHICLES. TREDIT TIRE, DOUBLETREE RV'S SUPPLIER OF TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES, HAD INVESTIGATED THE REASONS FOR THE CRACKED AND BROKEN WHEELS, DETERMINED THE CAUSES, AND NOTIFIED DOUBLETREE RV AND ODI (05E-051) OF THEIR FINDINGS IN AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 2005. DOUBLETREE RV HAS NOT YET PROVIDED ODI WITH COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT PAST INCIDENTS OF CRACKED, BROKEN, AND/OR LEAKING WHEELS. IN THE EVENT THAT DOUBLETREE RV REPORTS THAT WHEEL FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED IN VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO MARCH 1, 2005, ODI WILL EVALUATE WHETHER ADDITIONAL ACTIONS APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED FOR VEHICLES NOT CURRENTLY ADDRESSED BY CAMPAIGN O5V-425.
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.