Investigations
HORTON FAN HUB FAILURES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09002 — closed, opened 2009-01-05 and involving the KENWORTH KENWORTH.
NHTSA investigation PE09002 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-01-05 and currently closed. The subject of record is KENWORTH KENWORTH, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for KENWORTH. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-05-29 — 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 PE09002 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: "THERE ARE 84,573 SUBJECT AND PEER (KENWORTH) VEHICLES. SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2008 PACCAR TRUCKS BUILT WITH A HORTON FAN HUB ASSEMBLY. THE EA WILL INCLUDE PEER VEHICLES (KENWORTH'S WITH HORTON FAN H..." 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 KENWORTH files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
THERE ARE 84,573 SUBJECT AND PEER (KENWORTH) VEHICLES. SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2008 PACCAR TRUCKS BUILT WITH A HORTON FAN HUB ASSEMBLY. THE EA WILL INCLUDE PEER VEHICLES (KENWORTH'S WITH HORTON FAN HUBS) IN THE SUBJECT POPULATION. THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 1,645 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THE COMBINED POPULATION. ODI SURVEYED WARRANTY CLAIM OWNERS AND FOUND THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THE FAILURES RESULTED IN A DISABLED VEHICLE. ODI ALSO BELIEVES THAT CERTAIN MODELS ARE MORE PRONE TO FAILURE AND FURTHER ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES IN FAILURE RATES. ODI IS CONCERNED THAT A LARGE DISABLED VEHICLE IS AT AN INCREASED RISK OF BEING STRUCK IN THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. ODI IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THIS FAILURE MODE PROVIDES LITTLE WARNING AND THEREFORE, A DRIVER HAS LESS OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE TRAVEL LANES OR SHOULDER, ONCE A FAN SEPARATION HAS OCCURRED. ODI WILL CONDUCT FURTHER RISK ASSESSMENT DURING THE EA TO GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE WARNING, OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THE DRIVER AND THE INCREASED RISK OF THE TRUCK BEING STRUCK IN THE EVENT OF A BREAKDOWN. NHTSA HAS UPGRADED PE09-002 TO AN EA (EA09-008) TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER.
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 KENWORTH Investigations
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.