Investigations
TRAILER LIGHT PLUG FAILURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08011 — closed, opened 2008-02-08 and involving the KENWORTH KENWORTH.
NHTSA investigation PE08011 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-02-08 and currently closed. The subject of record is KENWORTH KENWORTH, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for KENWORTH. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-05-05 — 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 PE08011 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 (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF KENWORTH PRODUCTS BASED ON THEIR FIELD COMMUNICATION TIB # 34-31. KENWORTH INTRODUCED THE QCS II STA-DRY TRAILER CABLE IN MAY 2006. THE TECH..." 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 KENWORTH files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF KENWORTH PRODUCTS BASED ON THEIR FIELD COMMUNICATION TIB # 34-31. KENWORTH INTRODUCED THE QCS II STA-DRY TRAILER CABLE IN MAY 2006. THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN STEMMED FROM FIELD FEEDBACK THAT INDICATED A FLEXIBILITY PROBLEM WITH THE QCS II CABLE CONNECTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIGHTING TO THE TRAILER. ODI BELIEVES A LOSS OF LIGHTING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TRAILER'S VISIBILITY. FURTHER, THE RESULTING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS IS INHERENTLY CRITICAL TO HIGHWAY SAFETY, DAY OR NIGHT. KENWORTH HAS UPGRADED THE TIB REPAIR TO A SAFETY RECALL. KENWORTH DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT BRACKET BETWEEN THE BACK OF THE QCS II MOLDED BOOT AND THE FRAME BRACKET, THUS PROVIDING A BETTER CABLE CONNECTION. THE DEFECT NOTIFICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON 4/25/08 (COPY ATTACHED). TRAILERS BUILT BETWEEN MAY 24 AND NOVEMBER 21, 2006 (MODEL YEAR 2007 TRAILERS) WILL BE REMEDIED. THE POPULATION TO BE REMEDIED IS 3,573 IN THE UNITED STATES. 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.
Other KENWORTH Investigations
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.