Investigations
WHEEL CHAIR DOOR BECOMES UNLATCHED
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09038 - closed, opened 2009-08-28.
NHTSA investigation PE09038 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-08-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-11-05 - 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 PE09038 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 PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BY MCI TO THE AGENCY. MCI SUBMITTED A FIELD CHANGE PROGRAM BULLETIN IN THEIR JULY 2009 MONTHLY COMMUNICATIONS (49 CFR 597.5) SUBMISSION REGARDING..." 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 PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BY MCI TO THE AGENCY. MCI SUBMITTED A FIELD CHANGE PROGRAM BULLETIN IN THEIR JULY 2009 MONTHLY COMMUNICATIONS (49 CFR 597.5) SUBMISSION REGARDING A WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK DOOR RETROFIT KIT FOR G4500 SERIES COACHES. PER THE BULLETIN, THE SLIDING WHEELCHAIR DOOR MAY BECOME UNLATCHED, THE VISUAL WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DRIVER'S AREA MAY GO UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER AND THERE IS NO AUDIBLE WARNING. DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS, ODI LEARNED OF A COMPLAINT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE GROUP CHARTERED A G4500 MOTORCOACH AND REPORTEDLY THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUS OPENED WHILE THE BUS WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. THE INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ISSUE. IN SEPTEMBER 2009, MCI FILED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-345) OUTLINING THEIR INTENDED REMEDY PROGRAM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MCI WILL ADD AN AUDIBLE ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY LATCHED. THEY ALSO INTEND TO REINFORCE THE UPPER DOOR LATCH TO IMPROVE LATCHING SYSTEM DURABILITY. THE ACTION TAKEN BY MCI 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.