Investigations
ACCELERATOR PEDAL-FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08039 - closed, opened 2008-06-25 and involving the CHEVROLET CHEVROLET.
NHTSA investigation PE08039 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-06-25 and currently closed. The subject of record is CHEVROLET CHEVROLET, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for CHEVROLET. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-10-27 - 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 PE08039 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) IS AWARE OF 12 REPORTS SINCE 2005 THAT ALLEGE UNWANTED ACCELERATION ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR 2006 AND 2007 VEHICLES (FORD MUSTANG; CHEVROLET COBALT; GMC SIERRA 2500;..." 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 CHEVROLET 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) IS AWARE OF 12 REPORTS SINCE 2005 THAT ALLEGE UNWANTED ACCELERATION ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEAR 2006 AND 2007 VEHICLES (FORD MUSTANG; CHEVROLET COBALT; GMC SIERRA 2500; ACURA MDX; HONDA RIDGELINE; HYUNDAI AZERA AND SANTA FE; AND TOYOTA 4RUNNER, AVALON, CAMRY, AND TUNDRA) EQUIPPED WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT AFTERMARKET WEATHERTECH BRAND "ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS" AND "FLOORLINER" FLOOR COVERINGS MANUFACTURED BY MACNEIL. NONE OF THE VEHICLE/MAT COMBINATIONS HAD MORE THAN ONE COMPLAINT. NONE OF THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGED ANY CRASHES OR INJURIES. WEATHERTECH BRAND "ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS" ARE A FLAT-PATTERN FLOOR COVERING MADE OF A FLEXIBLE RUBBER MATERIAL THAT HAVE DEEPLY SCULPTED CHANNELS DESIGNED TO TRAP MOISTURE AND DEBRIS. WHILE THEY ARE NOT CUSTOMIZED TO FIT ANY PARTICULAR MAKE OR MODEL VEHICLE, MACNEIL RECOMMENDS ANY ONE OF APPROXIMATELY 80 DIFFERENT SHAPED DESIGNS FOR EACH SPECIFIC MAKE, MODEL AND MODEL YEAR VEHICLE BASED ON ITS OWN BEST FIT CRITERIA. "ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MATS" UTILIZE A NIBBED BACKING AND/OR A RIDGED NON-SKID PATTERN TO LIMIT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE MAT AND THE VEHICLE FLOOR BOARD. WEATHERTECH ALSO SELLS "FLOORLINERS," WHICH ARE RIGID PLASTIC FLOOR COVERINGS THAT ARE CONTOURED TO FIT SPECIFIC MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. "FLOORLINERS" APPEAR TO RELY PRIMARILY ON THEIR FORM FITTING SHAPE TO LIMIT MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE MAT AND THE VEHICLE FLOOR BOARD. HOWEVER, MACNEIL DOES WARN CONSUMERS, "IF SO EQUIPPED, PLEASE BE SURE TO USE ANY RETENTION DEVICES SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE MATS." IN GENERAL, VARIOUS VEHICLE, MAT AND USE FACTORS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVEL. VEHICLE FACTORS CAN INCLUDE PEDAL AND FLOOR PAN DESIGN. MAT FACTORS CAN INCLUDE THICKNESS AND GEOMETRY, PARTICULARLY AFFECTING THE ORIENTATION OF THE LEADING EDGE IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. USE FACTORS THAT HAVE BEEN OBSERVED IN INTERFERENCE INCIDENTS INCLUDE FAILURE TO REMO
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 CHEVROLET Investigations
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
Fuel Line Leak
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.