Investigations
ALTERNATOR B+ CABLE RETENTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08003 - closed, opened 2008-01-23.
NHTSA investigation PE08003 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-01-23 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-03-26 - 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 PE08003 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 STARTED FROM A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REVIEW. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE FIRE RISK POSED FROM A SHORTING BATTERY CABLE. VAN HOOL REVISITED THE ISSUE AND DECIDED TO CO..." 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 STARTED FROM A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REVIEW. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE FIRE RISK POSED FROM A SHORTING BATTERY CABLE. VAN HOOL REVISITED THE ISSUE AND DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL. UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL, VAN HOOL WILL ADD AN ADDITIONAL CLAMP TO HOLD THE REAR OF THE BATTERY CABLE FOR IMPROVED RETENTION. 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.