Investigations
HARNESS ADJUSTER MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08015 - closed, opened 2008-03-05.
NHTSA investigation PE08015 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-03-05 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-06-27 - 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 PE08015 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 WAS OPENED BASED ON TWO REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS ALLEGING MALFUNCTIONS OF THE HARNESS ADJUSTER MECHANISM IN THEIR 2006 MODEL YEAR BABY TREND FLEX-LOC REAR FACING INFANT RESTRAINT. ONE CONSUMER REPORTED T..." 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 WAS OPENED BASED ON TWO REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS ALLEGING MALFUNCTIONS OF THE HARNESS ADJUSTER MECHANISM IN THEIR 2006 MODEL YEAR BABY TREND FLEX-LOC REAR FACING INFANT RESTRAINT. ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THE HARNESS RELEASE BUTTON FALLS OFF AND THE HARNESS STRAPS DO NOT LOCK IN PLACE. BOTH CONSUMERS ADVISED ODI THAT THE INTERNAL SPRINGS OF THE HARNESS ADJUSTER MECHANISM CAME OUT OF THE ADJUSTER. BABY TREND PROVIDED ONE ADDITIONAL NON-DUPLICATIVE REPORT IN ITS APRIL 25, 2008 RESPONSE TO ODI. ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON THE LOW INCIDENT RATE AND THE PRODUCTION CHANGE TO THE HARNESS RELEASE BUTTON. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
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.