Investigations
IMPROPER HANDRAIL INSTALLATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08068 - closed, opened 2008-12-03.
NHTSA investigation PE08068 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-12-03 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-01-15 - 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 PE08068 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 INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER A SCHOOL BUS DISTRICT INFORMED ODI THAT DURING A "NEW BUS INSPECTION" THE HANDRAILS WERE FOUND TO BE MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM STEP OF THE BUS AND FAILED THE "DRAWSTRING TEST." (..." 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 INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER A SCHOOL BUS DISTRICT INFORMED ODI THAT DURING A "NEW BUS INSPECTION" THE HANDRAILS WERE FOUND TO BE MOUNTED TOO CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM STEP OF THE BUS AND FAILED THE "DRAWSTRING TEST." (THE DRAWSTRING TEST WAS DEVELOPED IN THE EARLY 90'S TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN'S DRAWSTRINGS WOULD NOT GET CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL WHILE EXITING THE BUS.) SEVERAL OTHER NEW BUSES WERE INSPECTED AND THEY ALSO FAILED THE TEST. DAIMLER TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINE THE SCOPE. ODI HAS A PRIOR HISTORY WITH THIS TYPE OF FAILURE AND OPENED A PE TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE REPORT. OF PARTICULAR CONCERN WAS THE "SCOPE" OF THE IMPROPER HANDRAIL INSTALLATIONS. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, ODI VISITED SCHOOL BUS FLEETS AND AREA DEALERS AND INSPECTED SUSPECT BUSES. ODI FOUND THAT THERE WERE INCONSISTENCIES WITH THE MOUNTING OF THE LOWER PORTION OF THE HANDRAILS. THIS RESULTED IN INADEQUATE CLEARANCES BETWEEN THE LAST STEP AND THE BULKHEAD (WALL OF THE BUS), CREATING A PLACE FOR A DRAWSTRING TO BECOME ENTANGLED. THESE FINDINGS WERE RELAYED BACK TO DAIMLER/THOMAS BUILT BUSES. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE FIELD INCIDENTS, DAIMLER DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL. THEY WILL ORDER THE INSPECTION OF SUSPECT BUSES AND REPAIRS, AS NECESSARY, TO ENSURE PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE HANDRAILS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS RECALL 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.