Investigations
Fuel Tank Straps Fail due to Corrosion
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE11006 - closed, opened 2011-02-28.
NHTSA investigation PE11006 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2011-02-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2011-08-05 - 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 PE11006 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: "On February 28th 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-006) on certain Pierce fire trucks for fuel tank straps that fail due to corrosion; allowing the fuel the tank to dro..." 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
On February 28th 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-006) on certain Pierce fire trucks for fuel tank straps that fail due to corrosion; allowing the fuel the tank to drop from the vehicle. Pierce determined that some fire trucks may be exposed to winter road de-icing chemicals. Over a period of time the fuel tank straps may corrode. This corrosion will weaken the fuel tank straps causing the strap(s) to fail/fracture and allow the fuel tank to separate from the vehicle. If the tank were to drop on the roadway while the vehicle was in motion, the vehicle may stall and lose power. In addition, other surrounding vehicles, trying to avoid the fire truck and or the loose fuel tank may lose control. The danger of a loose fuel tank, spilling its fuel onto the road is also a concern. If either or both of these conditions were to take place, a crash could occur. Pierce's safety recall (11V-385) is an inspect-and-repair campaign. To reduce the risk of failed tank straps, Pierce is making available to all consumers stainless fuel tank straps upon an inspection of the existing ones. If corrosion is found, Pierce will replace the old corrosion prone fuel straps with new stainless straps. The vehicles included in this safety recall are: certain Arrow XT, Dash, Custom Contender, Lance, Enforcer, Pierce Arrow, Quantum, Saber & Commercial fire apparatus models manufactured between January 2, 1995 and January 21, 2008. This Preliminary Evaluation is closed. See NHTSA recall 11V-385.
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.