Investigations
Engine Compartment Fires
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE10018 - closed, opened 2010-05-27.
NHTSA investigation PE10018 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2010-05-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2010-07-09 - 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 PE10018 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 became aware of four engine compartment fires allegedly related to fuel leakage from the engine's fuel injector system. ODI conducted field examinations and communicated the identi..." 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 became aware of four engine compartment fires allegedly related to fuel leakage from the engine's fuel injector system. ODI conducted field examinations and communicated the identified concerns to Blue Bird. ODI also had discussions with Caterpillar, the engine manufacturer. On June 28th, 2010, Blue Bird filed two safety defect reports with NHTSA to address fuel lines that may crack at the fastening point to the common fuel rail. Safety recall campaign 10V-289 involves 3,686 school buses and safety recall campaign 10V-290 involves 103 non-school bus vehicles. The subject vehicles were equipped with the Caterpillar C-7-07 engine and it was determined that clamping of the #5 fuel line to the #6 fuel line and assembly stresses caused the #6 fuel line to fail. The remedy consist of replacing the #5 and #6 fuel lines and adding a new clamp to # 5 fuel line. Simultaneously with Blue Bird's decision to conduct the above recalls, Caterpillar Inc. filed a safety recall (10E-025) with NHTSA to perform the same remedy on 5,920 C7 series engines. Blue Bird engines are included in the Caterpillar recall. These recalls resolve the issues raised by this investigation. Therefore, 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.