Investigations
Loose Mounting Straps and Stuck Valves
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE13019 - closed, opened 2013-06-06.
NHTSA investigation PE13019 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2013-06-06 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2014-06-12 - 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 PE13019 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: "By letters dated May 16, 2014, Agility Fuel Systems, Inc. (Agility) has notified the agency that it is conducting two safety recalls (NHTSA Recall No. 14E-025 and 14E-026) to address safety defects in certain compressed..." 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
By letters dated May 16, 2014, Agility Fuel Systems, Inc. (Agility) has notified the agency that it is conducting two safety recalls (NHTSA Recall No. 14E-025 and 14E-026) to address safety defects in certain compressed natural gas (CNG) equipment sold for use in certain heavy-duty truck applications. Safety recall 14E-025 addresses potentially defective CNG fuel container manual shutoff/ isolation valves manufactured by Young Do Industrial Co., Ltd. (Young Do). Approximately 462 vehicles were equipped by Agility with 829 subject Young Do valves between September 2010 and January 2013. When the valve is closed it may remain stuck in the closed position due to the valve seat becoming detached from the valve stem, thus blocking the flow of fuel from the fuel container to the engine. Such a condition poses a safety risk primarily to service personnel as there is no safe way to depressurize the fuel system and service the subject valve when it is stuck in the closed position. There may also be a small fuel leak through the valve stem when the valve seat becomes detached. The affected fuel container may also become over-pressurized if the stuck valve goes undetected for a period of time, or is not repaired in a timely manner, and the ambient temperature increases significantly. To date, Agility has repaired 566 of 829 potentially defective Young Do valves on 216 vehicles. The remainder will be repaired by Agility free of charge by installing a new valve seat and stem assembly. Safety recall 14E-026 addresses potentially defective CNG frame rail side-mount fuel container mounting straps that may become loose. Approximately 566 vehicles were equipped by Agility with 1,036 subject fuel container mounting systems between September 2010 and January 2013. A loose fuel container may experience abrasion damage. High-pressure fuel and vent lines may also become compromised, increasing the risk of fuel container rupture, fuel leak, disruption of fuel flow to the engine (possibly r
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.