Investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08023 - closed, opened 2008-03-26.
NHTSA investigation PE08023 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-03-26 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-07-21 - 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 PE08023 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: "A JANUARY 2008 SERVICE BULLETIN SUGGESTS THAT CERTAIN MODEL BUSES SHOULD UPGRADE TO A "HIGH TORQUE" WIPER MOTOR. THE TSB ALSO ALLUDED TO WIPER MOTOR FAILURES. THEREFORE, ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE FAI..." 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
A JANUARY 2008 SERVICE BULLETIN SUGGESTS THAT CERTAIN MODEL BUSES SHOULD UPGRADE TO A "HIGH TORQUE" WIPER MOTOR. THE TSB ALSO ALLUDED TO WIPER MOTOR FAILURES. THEREFORE, ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE MODE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE SINCE THE WIPER SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CRITICAL ITEM OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND IS REQUIRED BY A FEDERAL STANDARD. VAN HOOL RE-EVALUATED THE ISSUE AND DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL. VAN HOOL DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE, BUT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH "IMPROPERLY FINISHED" LINKAGE COMPONENTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE WIPER MOTOR TO FAIL. ALL WIPER MOTOR LINKAGES ON THE AFFECTED BUSES WILL BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. 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.