Investigations
COMPLETE OR PARTIAL JACK COLLAPSE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06025 - closed, opened 2006-07-07.
NHTSA investigation PE06025 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-07-07 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-01-22 - 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 PE06025 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: "DURING THE 1998-2002 SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ATWOOD RECEIVED 42 REPORTS OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL JACK COLLAPSES AND AN ADDITIONAL 18 REPORTS THAT DESCRIBE THE INNER PORTION OF THE JACK UNEXPECTEDLY EXTENDING --- SOMET..." 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
DURING THE 1998-2002 SCOPE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ATWOOD RECEIVED 42 REPORTS OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL JACK COLLAPSES AND AN ADDITIONAL 18 REPORTS THAT DESCRIBE THE INNER PORTION OF THE JACK UNEXPECTEDLY EXTENDING --- SOMETIMES WHILE TRAVELING --- INDICATING THAT THESE JACKS WERE AT IMMINENT RISK OF COLLAPSE IF THE JACKS HAD BEEN SUPPORTING THE CAMPER. ATWOOD'S INSPECTION RECORDS OF RETURNED JACKS INDICATE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE COLLAPSES DURING THIS PERIOD WERE ASSOCIATED WITH SPLIT OR DEFORMED BALL BEARING RETURN TUBES WHICH WOULD ALLOW THE LOAD SUPPORTING BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE FROM THE BALL SCREW NUT ASSEMBLY AND CAUSE THE JACK TO COLLAPSE. RECORDS FROM LANCE CAMPER MANUFACTURING CORP, THE PRINCIPAL PURCHASER OF ATWOOD ELECTRIC BALL SCREW JACKS, INDICATE 40 REPORTS IN WHICH SWING-OUT BRACKETS OR BRACKET WELDS WERE FOUND CRACKED OR BROKEN IN MODEL YEAR 1998-2002 CAMPERS. ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN A CAMPER TIPPING. ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE ATWOOD HAS AGREED TO ISSUE (MAIL, WEBSITE, AND POINT OF SALE) INFORMATION TO PAST AND FUTURE PURCHASERS OF ATWOOD BALL SCREW JACKS REGARDING THE PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN FOR SAFE JACK OPERATION AND TO PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING PERIODIC INSPECTIONS TO DETECT CRACKS THAT MAY DEVELOP IN THE SWING OUT BRACKET WELDS.
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.