Investigations
HARNESS ADJUSTER
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07017 - closed, opened 2007-04-02.
NHTSA investigation PE07017 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-04-02 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-08-07 - 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 PE07017 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: "BY LETTER OF AUGUST 3, 2007, BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC. HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (SEE RECALL 07C-005) OF 121,109 DECATHLON CHILD RESTRAINTS TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH THE HARNESS ADJUSTER ASSEMBL..." 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
BY LETTER OF AUGUST 3, 2007, BRITAX CHILD SAFETY, INC. HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (SEE RECALL 07C-005) OF 121,109 DECATHLON CHILD RESTRAINTS TO REMEDY PROBLEMS WITH THE HARNESS ADJUSTER ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL INVOLVES ALL DECATHLON RESTRAINTS (MODEL NUMBER E9L47) PRODUCED FROM FEBRUARY 12, 2005 THROUGH JULY 31, 2007. DECATHLON RESTRAINTS PRODUCED AFTER JULY 31, 2007 HAVE HAD A PRODUCTION MODIFICATION AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON APRIL 2, 2007, BASED ON FOUR CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THE HARNESS RELEASE BUTTON AND ADJUSTER DETACHED AS THE HARNESS WAS BEING ADJUSTED. BRITAX WILL PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY KIT THAT INCLUDES TWO PLASTIC PUSH RIVET FASTENERS TO SECURE THE HARNESS ADJUSTER IN PLACE. SEE BRITAX'S DEFECT REPORT FOR MORE DETAIL.
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.