Investigations
INTERIOR FIRES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07053 - closed, opened 2007-10-29.
NHTSA investigation PE07053 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-10-29 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-02-22 - 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 PE07053 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: "THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON A FLEET REPORT OF 3 THERMAL EVENTS ALLEGEDLY THE RESULT OF CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER'S EVAPORATOR DRAIN HOSE SHORTING ELECTRICAL..." 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
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION BASED ON A FLEET REPORT OF 3 THERMAL EVENTS ALLEGEDLY THE RESULT OF CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER'S EVAPORATOR DRAIN HOSE SHORTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EVALUATE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE THERMAL EVENTS. A TECHNICAL EVALUATION DETERMINED THAT THE DRAIN LINE FOR THE ROOFTOP EVAPORATOR UNIT CONTACTED THE BALLAST INVERTER FOR THE FLUORESCENT LIGHTING PANEL AND BECAME ABRADED. THE ABRASION OF THE DRAIN LINE RESULTED IN LOW PRESSURE AND LOW VOLUMES OF MOISTURE BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE LIGHTING PANEL RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL SHORTS. NEW FLYER DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TO INSTALL AN " ELBOW" ON THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN LINE WHERE IT ENTERS THE BUS INTERIOR. THIS ELBOW RELOCATES THE DRAIN LINE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE LINE AND LIGHTING COMPONENTS. THIS REMEDY RESOLVES THE ISSUE UNDER INVESTIGATION AND, THEREFORE, 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.
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.