Investigations
TRASH TRUCK FIRES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08057 - closed, opened 2008-09-25.
NHTSA investigation PE08057 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-09-25 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-01-08 - 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 PE08057 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: "ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING ALLEGATIONS OF TWO TRASH TRUCK FIRES WITH THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING SUSPECTED AS THE CAUSE. THE TWO ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND UNATTENDED. LODAL CONTENDS..." 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
ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING ALLEGATIONS OF TWO TRASH TRUCK FIRES WITH THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING SUSPECTED AS THE CAUSE. THE TWO ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND UNATTENDED. LODAL CONTENDS THAT THEY ARE ONLY AWARE OF TWO FIRE EVENTS RELATED IN ANY MANNER TO BATTERY CABLES. THESE ARE THE TWO FIRES REPORTED TO ODI WHICH PROMPTED THIS INVESTIGATION. LODAL DOES NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS A WIDE SPREAD "FIRE" ISSUE CONCERNING THE SUBJECT POPULATION. LODAL AGREES THAT THE BATTERY CABLE MOUNTING AND ROUTING IS IMPORTANT AND STATES THAT BOTH MUST BE CHECKED AFTER ANY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED IN OR ABOUT THE BATTERY CABLE AREA. LODAL STATES (AND ODI AGREES) THAT TRASH TRUCKS OPERATE IN AN EXTREMELY HARSH ENVIRONMENT AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 8 YEARS. THIS SEVERE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS THAT GOOD MAINTENANCE PRACTICES ARE FOLLOWED BY FLEETS TO ENSURE THE BATTERY CABLES ARE NOT COMPROMISED, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. LODAL HAS AGREED TO PUBLISH A SERVICE BULLETIN AND SEND IT TO ALL VEHICLE OWNERS OF SIMILAR DESIGN OR BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND ALERT THEM TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INSPECTING THE BATTERY CABLE, ITS MOUNTING, AND INTERFACE WITH THE BATTERY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. BASED ON LODAL'S DATA AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE FIRES, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.
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.