Investigations
EMERGENCY DOOR HANDLE FAILURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07054 - closed, opened 2007-11-09.
NHTSA investigation PE07054 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-11-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-03-04 - 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 PE07054 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 AFTER BECOMING AWARE THAT FLEETS WERE HAVING HANDLE FAILURES ON THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR EXIT. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING FROM..." 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 AFTER BECOMING AWARE THAT FLEETS WERE HAVING HANDLE FAILURES ON THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR EXIT. THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING FROM THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. WHEN THE HANDLE FAILS, THE REAR EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE BUS. THE FAILURE RESULTS FROM CORROSION OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION WEAKENS THE HANDLE AND EVENTUALLY THE HANDLE MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EXIT DOOR. ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT DURING AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE BUS WOULD BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR, POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION OF THE BUS. UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE ALUMINUM HANDLES WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE. THE RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, 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.