Investigations
Trailer Structural Cracks
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE13032 - closed, opened 2013-09-20.
NHTSA investigation PE13032 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2013-09-20 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2014-03-10 - 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 PE13032 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 open based on information ODI received through Early Warning Reporting. After gathering data, interviewing fleets and analyzing the available information ODI has not identified a safety defect tren..." 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 open based on information ODI received through Early Warning Reporting. After gathering data, interviewing fleets and analyzing the available information ODI has not identified a safety defect trend. In response to an ODI request, Cornhusker reported 36 warranty claims related to the alleged defect. None of the claims resulted in a loss of vehicle control. In all cases the driver identified the component failure and placed the vehicle out of service without incident. ODI was concerned that a structural member failure would allow the trailer to separate or to drop down and contact the drive tires and increase the risk of a crash. However, no reports of these conditions were received. ODI also requested fleet contact information and spoke with five fleets. When asked if this condition created a safety risk, none answered affirmatively. All responding fleets were easily able to identify the failure and get it corrected without injury or property damage. Cornhusker provided a finite element analysis (FEA) of the failure area that showed how the structural members were failing and explained that the area in question was ahead of the kingpin and centered in the middle of the trailer. Cornhusker stated that even in cases of extreme neglect and failure, the pin plate bowed up slightly, but showed no signs of the trailer separating or falling down on the tractor driving wheels. In comparing the failure mode on the trailers subject of this investigation with trailers that have been recalled for similar failure modes, ODI found that in recall 06V-336 from Wilson Trailer Co. the area in question was behind the kingpin and to the side where the assembly attaches to the trailer bottom rail. When structure in this area fails, the trailer could fall down and contact the driving wheels on the tractor causing loss of vehicle control. ODI found that the average in-service time to failure was 34 months, with 93% of failures occurring prior to 4 years of service.
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.