Investigations
EMERGENCY WINDOW HANDLES BREAK
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09023 - closed, opened 2009-05-06.
NHTSA investigation PE09023 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-05-06 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-08-05 - 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 PE09023 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 ODI WAS INFORMED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DOT THAT HANDLES ON THE SIDE EMERGENCY "PUSH OUT" WINDOWS WERE BEING SNAPPED OFF AS PERSONNEL WERE PERFORMING TRANSIT BUS INSPECTIONS. DAIMLER'S..." 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 ODI WAS INFORMED BY THE NEW YORK STATE DOT THAT HANDLES ON THE SIDE EMERGENCY "PUSH OUT" WINDOWS WERE BEING SNAPPED OFF AS PERSONNEL WERE PERFORMING TRANSIT BUS INSPECTIONS. DAIMLER'S INTERNAL INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BUSES BUILT FROM OCTOBER 30, 2008 TO MARCH 25, 2009 HAD ASSEMBLY LINE PERSONNEL UNFAMILIAR WITH THE CORRECT WINDOW INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. THESE BUSES HAD WINDOWS INSTALLED WITHOUT PROPER "SHIMMING," POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN BINDING OF THE WINDOW WHEN ATTEMPTING TO OPEN. DAIMLER HAS FILED A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL AFFECTED BUSES AND WILL INSTALL SHIMS AS REQUIRED, ENSURING PROPER OPERATION OF THE WINDOW. THE ACTION TAKEN BY DAIMLER 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.