Investigations
TURN SIGNAL LAMPS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08062 - closed, opened 2008-10-21.
NHTSA investigation PE08062 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-10-21 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-03-20 - 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 PE08062 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 SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF FUNCTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PARK, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL). FAILURE OF THE BULB MAY ALSO INCLUDE DISCOLORATION (HEAT DAMAGE) TO THE BULB SOCKET. GENERAL MOT..." 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
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF FUNCTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PARK, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL). FAILURE OF THE BULB MAY ALSO INCLUDE DISCOLORATION (HEAT DAMAGE) TO THE BULB SOCKET. GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER 06-08-42-004C INSTRUCTS TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE THE LAMP HOUSING FOR SIGNS OF DISCOLORATION AND TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND OR SOCKETS DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE DISCOLORATION AND THE CONDITION OF THE BULBS AND SOCKETS. THE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION IN THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-062) WAS THE 2004 MALIBU/MAXX. HOWEVER, THE AGENCY EVALUATED GM'S WARRANTY DATA WHICH INDICATES THAT THE 2005 MODEL YEAR (MY) MALIBU AND MALIBU MAXX VEHICLES ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION. THIS INVESTIGATION IS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-004).
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.