Investigations
INTERIOR FIRE, PASSENGER SIDE DASH AREA
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06056 - closed, opened 2006-11-21.
NHTSA investigation PE06056 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-11-21 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-03-12 - 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 PE06056 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 ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006 BASED ON TWO OWNER REPORTS AND ONE E-MAIL REPORT ALLEGING AN INTERIOR FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF THE DASH PANEL. DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) HAS IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN..." 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 ON NOVEMBER 21, 2006 BASED ON TWO OWNER REPORTS AND ONE E-MAIL REPORT ALLEGING AN INTERIOR FIRE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AREA OF THE DASH PANEL. DAIMLERCHRYSLER (DCC) HAS IDENTIFIED A DEFECT IN THE BLOWER MOTOR OF THE HVAC SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND IN CERTAIN 2007 MODEL YEAR LIBERTY VEHICLES. THE DEFECT REPORT STATES, "UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIRCONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR MAY OVERHEAT AND CAUSE AN INTERIOR FIRE." DCC WILL RECALL 149,065 VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL HVAC BLOWER MOTOR WITH ONE OF A NEW DESIGN. THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE ALL 2006 MODEL YEAR AND 2007 MODEL YEAR JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES BUILT FROM START OF PRODUCTION THROUGH AUGUST 15, 2006. SEE NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 07V089 FOR DETAILS.
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.