Investigations
SCHOOL BUS STALLING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08034 - closed, opened 2008-05-09.
NHTSA investigation PE08034 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-05-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-08-28 - 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 PE08034 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 PE WAS OPENED AFTER ODI BECAME AWARE OF 7 EVENTS ON SCHOOL BUSES WHERE THE FUSE FOR THE ECM OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE FUSE HOLDER AND/OR FUSE HOLDER TERMINALS. ONCE OVERHEATING OF THE FUSE HOLDER OCCURS, THE FUSE BL..." 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 PE WAS OPENED AFTER ODI BECAME AWARE OF 7 EVENTS ON SCHOOL BUSES WHERE THE FUSE FOR THE ECM OVERHEATED AND BURNED THE FUSE HOLDER AND/OR FUSE HOLDER TERMINALS. ONCE OVERHEATING OF THE FUSE HOLDER OCCURS, THE FUSE BLADES WOULD NO LONGER BE SECURED IN THE PLASTIC HOLDER, THUS INTERRUPTING THE ELECTRICAL FLOW. THE COMPLAINTS CENTERED AROUND EITHER A NO-START, HARD START, ERRATIC ENGINE PERFORMANCE OR ENGINE STALLING. ODI WAS ALSO AWARE OF REPORTED BATTERY BOX FIRES. THE PE WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE THE SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE AND GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROBLEM. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI AND FURTHER REVIEW OF FIELD INCIDENTS, IC DECIDED THE PROPER WAY TO HANDLE THIS ISSUE WAS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL DURING WHICH THEY WILL REPLACE THE FUSE HOLDERS AND THE POWER ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THEREFORE, 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.