Investigations
WHEELCHAIR LIFT MICRO-SWITCH DISABLED
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06049 - closed, opened 2006-11-09 and involving the FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER.
NHTSA investigation PE06049 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-11-09 and currently closed. The subject of record is FREIGHTLINER FREIGHTLINER, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for FREIGHTLINER. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-02-27 - 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 PE06049 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 WAS CONTACTED BY A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED NUMEROUS BUSES WITH ¿ZIP-TIES¿ SECURING THE WHEELCHAIR DOOR MICRO-SWITCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS WOULD DE..." 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. Related FREIGHTLINER files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED NUMEROUS BUSES WITH ¿ZIP-TIES¿ SECURING THE WHEELCHAIR DOOR MICRO-SWITCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS WOULD DEFEAT THE SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS THE BUS FROM BEING MOVED UNLESS THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT IS IN THE FULLY STOWED POSITION. ODI IS AWARE OF ONE ALLEGED CRASH RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. FREIGHTLINER STARTED USING THE PLASTIC "ZIP-TIES" ON THE 2006 MODEL CLASS "A" BUSES. THE "ZIP-TIES" WERE INSTALLED TO ENABLE THE BUS TO BE MOVED DOWN THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY LINE WHILE THE LIFT WAS STILL IN THE DOWN POSITION. USE OF THE "ZIP-TIES" IS UNIQUE TO THE SUBJECT BUSES. FREIGHTLINER WILL CONDUCT A RECALL TO INSPECT ALL AFFECTED BUSES FOR "ZIP-TIES" THAT WERE NOT REMOVED BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE BUSES. ANY "ZIP-TIES" LOCATED DURING THE INSPECTION WILL BE REMOVED. THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY FREIGHTLINER 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.
Other FREIGHTLINER Investigations
EVDM connector plate separation
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
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.