Investigations
STARTER WIRE ABRADES PARKING CABLE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09053 - closed, opened 2009-11-09.
NHTSA investigation PE09053 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-11-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2010-02-03 - 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 PE09053 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: "ODI BECAME AWARE OF TWO BUS FIRES THAT RESULTED FROM THE BATTERY/STARTER CABLE RUBBING AGAINST THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. ODI VISITED THE FLEET, INSPECTED THE BUSES, AND FOUND OTHER BUSES WITH EARLY STAGES OF WIRE/CABLE AB..." 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
ODI BECAME AWARE OF TWO BUS FIRES THAT RESULTED FROM THE BATTERY/STARTER CABLE RUBBING AGAINST THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. ODI VISITED THE FLEET, INSPECTED THE BUSES, AND FOUND OTHER BUSES WITH EARLY STAGES OF WIRE/CABLE ABRASION. ODI CONTACTED ANOTHER FLEET WITH SIMILAR BUSES AND THEY ALSO IDENTIFIED ABRADING WIRE/CABLES. AFTER COMPLETING THEIR EVALUATION, NAVISTAR HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT, REPAIR AS NECESSARY, AND REROUTE THE BATTERY CABLE AWAY FROM THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE. THE ACTION TAKEN BY NAVISTAR RESOLVES 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.