Investigations
FUEL PUMP LEAKS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09028 - closed, opened 2009-05-21.
NHTSA investigation PE09028 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-05-21 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-10-27 - 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 PE09028 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: "THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON NINE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS ALLEGING GASOLINE LEAKAGE FROM THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORTED LEAKS FROM T..." 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
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION BASED ON NINE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS ALLEGING GASOLINE LEAKAGE FROM THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. SOME COMPLAINANTS REPORTED LEAKS FROM THE FUEL PUMP "NIPPLE" (I.E., THE FITTING FOR THE FUEL SUPPLY AND/OR RETURN HOSES). OTHERS REPORTED LEAKAGE FROM FUEL PUMP CRACKS, FUEL PUMP LINES, AND FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. ODI WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY THAT ALL OF THE LEAKS ORIGINATED FROM THE FUEL PUMP HOSE FITTINGS AND OR NIPPLES. ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE COMPLAINT DATA ATTRIBUTED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SHOW A LOW OVERALL RATE AND A DECLINING TREND, AS 75% OF THE REPORTS WERE RECEIVED PRIOR TO CALENDAR YEAR 2009. COMPLAINT DATA FOR MODEL YEAR 2001 AND 2003 VEHICLES ALSO DEMONSTRATES A LOW RATE AND SIMILAR DECLINING TREND. A DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.