Investigations
WHEELCHAIR LIFT ARM FRACTURES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06003 - closed, opened 2006-01-05.
NHTSA investigation PE06003 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-01-05 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-02-01 - 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 PE06003 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 ODI RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED ON TWO OF THEIR WHEELCHAIR LIFT'S VERTICAL ARMS. THE LIFTS ARE USED TO RAISE WHEELCHAIRS FROM THE STREET..." 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 ODI RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED ON TWO OF THEIR WHEELCHAIR LIFT'S VERTICAL ARMS. THE LIFTS ARE USED TO RAISE WHEELCHAIRS FROM THE STREET LEVEL TO ALLOW ENTRY INTO THE SCHOOL BUS. ODI CONDUCTED SECONDARY DISCUSSIONS WITH RICON AND ALSO DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH OTHER FLEETS. ON JANUARY 23, 2006, RICON INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL. RICON WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL THE VERTICAL ARMS ON WHEELCHAIR LIFTS PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 12, 2005 AND JULY 1, 2005. RICON DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS THE RESULT OF WELDS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE FULL PENETRATION. THIS WAS DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED ROBOTIC WELDER. THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY RICON 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.