Investigations
COOLING FAN SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09007 - closed, opened 2009-02-12.
NHTSA investigation PE09007 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-02-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-04-09 - 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 PE09007 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: "A BLUE BIRD CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN DATED DECEMBER 18, 2008, WARNS OWNERS THAT THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED USING INCORRECTLY SIZED BOLTS AND SPACERS ON MODEL YEARS 2008 AND 2009 VISION..." 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
A BLUE BIRD CORPORATION SERVICE BULLETIN DATED DECEMBER 18, 2008, WARNS OWNERS THAT THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED USING INCORRECTLY SIZED BOLTS AND SPACERS ON MODEL YEARS 2008 AND 2009 VISION SCHOOL BUSES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE FAN BLADE MAY SEPARATE FROM THE CLUTCH MOUNTING POSITION. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, ON MARCH 3, 2009, BLUE BIRD FILED A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL INVOLVED BUSES. BLUE BIRD WILL REPLACED THE EXISTING SPACERS AND BOLTS IF FOUND TO BE THE INCORRECT HARDWARE. THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, 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.