Investigations
DASH/INTERIOR FIRE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07034 - closed, opened 2007-07-10 and involving the INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL.
NHTSA investigation PE07034 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-07-10 and currently closed. The subject of record is INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for INTERNATIONAL. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-10-12 - 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 PE07034 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: "BASED ON THE DATA PROVIDED BY INTERNATIONAL AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE ALLEGED FIRES, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. A REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL CLAIMS THAT 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 INTERNATIONAL files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
BASED ON THE DATA PROVIDED BY INTERNATIONAL AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE ALLEGED FIRES, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. A REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY DATA PROVIDED NO ADDITIONAL CLAIMS THAT DESCRIBE STEP-WELL HEATER BLOWER THERMAL EVENTS. NO WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE FIRES OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY DAMAGE TO THE BUS. SIMILARLY, A REVIEW OF 64 APPLICABLE DEALER REPORTS FOUND NO REFERENCE TO SMOKE, FIRE, OR BURNED COMPONENTS. OTHER THAN THE THREE FIRE CLAIMS MENTIONED IN THIS PE, INTERNATIONAL HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY OTHER REPORTS OF FIRE RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT FOR THE 23,000 SUBJECT BUSES. WITH REGARD TO THE THREE FIRES IDENTIFIED, INTERNATIONAL WAS ONLY ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE ORIGIN OF THE TWO ELGIN FLEET FIRES OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF THE STEP-WELL HEATER AROUND THE BLOWER MOTOR AREA. THE ORIGIN OF THE ST. PAUL FIRE WAS NOT IN THE AREA OF THE STEP-WELL HEATER, RATHER, BASED ON THE BURN PATTERNS OF THIS UNIT, THE FIRE ORIGINATED TO THE LEFT OF THE STEP-WELL HEATER. INTERNATIONAL PLANS TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE STEP-WELL HEATER AND THE FRONT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. NO FIELD ACTION OF ANY KIND IS PLANNED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER INTERNATIONAL IS CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION WITH REGARD TO THE ELGIN BUSES TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE ROOT CAUSE OF THOSE TWO INCIDENTS. A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR REPORTS AND TAKE THE APPROPRIATE 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 INTERNATIONAL Investigations
International Autos, Inc. / Mini Recall
Software security vulnerability
Software security vulnerability
Headlight failures/fires
Brake S-Cam Tube Bracket 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. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.