Investigations
REAR BRAKE AIR CHAMBER MTG BRACKETS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09013 — closed, opened 2009-02-27 and involving the KENWORTH KENWORTH.
NHTSA investigation PE09013 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-02-27 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 2009-07-06 — 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 PE09013 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: "ON JUNE 23, 2009 PACCAR NOTIFIED ODI THAT 3,423 KENWORTH T2000, T800, T600, W900, AND T660 TRUCKS, MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2009, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX BRAKES, WIDE BASE LOW PROFILE TIRES AND AIRGLIDE (AG) 400/460 REAR SUSPENSI..." 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
ON JUNE 23, 2009 PACCAR NOTIFIED ODI THAT 3,423 KENWORTH T2000, T800, T600, W900, AND T660 TRUCKS, MODEL YEARS 2004 - 2009, EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX BRAKES, WIDE BASE LOW PROFILE TIRES AND AIRGLIDE (AG) 400/460 REAR SUSPENSIONS ARE BEING RECALLED. CERTAIN OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED FATIGUE CRACKS IN THE BRAKE CAM TUBE MOUNTING OR AIR CHAMBER MOUNTING FLANGES BRACKET ADJACENT TO THE ATTACHMENT WELDS. IF LEFT UNREPAIRED, THE CRACKS CAN CAUSE A COMPLETE FRACTURE OF THE CAM TUBE, WHICH COULD DISABLE THE AFFECTED BRAKE AND RISK INCREASING VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCES UNDER HIGH PRESSURE BRAKE APPLICATIONS AND DECREASE PARKING BRAKE CAPABILITY. THIS CONFIGURATION HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURES AT A HIGHER RATE THAN SIMILAR VEHICLES WITH OTHER TYPES OF SUSPENSIONS AND BRAKE INSTALLATION CLOCKING. PACCAR WILL ALSO SEND AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS OF VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SUSPENSIONS OTHER THAN THE AG 400/460, WHICH WILL PRESCRIBE A PERIODIC INSPECTION OF THE COMPONENTS AND IF A CRACK IS DISCOVERED, OFFER THE OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A FREE REPAIR. THIS POLICY WILL BE IN EFFECT UNTIL JULY 15, 2014. COPIES OF THE RECALL AND THE OWNER NOTIFICATION ARE ATTACHED.
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.