Investigations
INOPERABLE TAIL LIGHTS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06054 — closed, opened 2006-11-16 and involving the VOLVO VOLVO.
NHTSA investigation PE06054 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-11-16 and currently closed. The subject of record is VOLVO VOLVO, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for VOLVO. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-02-07 — 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 PE06054 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: "ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND EWR DATA. EWR WARRANTY DATA IS AGGREGATE DATA AND INDIVIDUAL REPORTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED. VOLVO REVIEWED THEIR WARRANTY DATA AND DETERMINED THAT ONLY..." 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 VOLVO files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN AND EWR DATA. EWR WARRANTY DATA IS AGGREGATE DATA AND INDIVIDUAL REPORTS ARE NOT SUBMITTED. VOLVO REVIEWED THEIR WARRANTY DATA AND DETERMINED THAT ONLY 63 OF THE EWR WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DISPLAYED SYMPTOMS CONSISTENT WITH THE TSB. VOLVO ALSO NOTED IN THEIR IR RESPONSE THAT THE TAIL LIGHT CONFIGURATION IS USED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON TRACTORS THAT ARE NORMALLY ATTACHED TO SEMI TRAILERS. THEREFORE, THE TRACTOR LIGHTS ARE NORMALLY NOT THE REAR MOST LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE. IN A NORMAL APPLICATION, EVEN IF ONE TAIL LIGHT ON THE TRACTOR WAS OUT, THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE TRAILER WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE AND PROVIDE OTHER DRIVERS OF THE INTENTIONS OF THE SEMI TRAILER DRIVER. PURSUANT TO 49 CFR 396.11 & 13, A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM A PRE-TRIP AND POST-TRIP INSPECTION, WHICH INCLUDES CHECKING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE TAIL LIGHTS. GIVEN THE ABOVE INFORMATION, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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 VOLVO Investigations
Discrepancies in Required CFR Reporting
Ride Quality
Windshield Wiper Failures
Volvo Sleeper glass de-bonding
Central Electronic Module Failure
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.