Investigations
Brake Surface Grease Contamination
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE14008 - closed, opened 2014-03-20.
NHTSA investigation PE14008 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2014-03-20 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2014-10-07 - 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 PE14008 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: "The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 8 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) alleging grease contamination on the trailer brake shoes or drums. This condition could potentially increa..." 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
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on 8 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) alleging grease contamination on the trailer brake shoes or drums. This condition could potentially increase the towing vehicle's stopping distance and therefore increase the risk of a crash. During the investigation, ODI received 2 additional VOQs alleging the same problem. ODI sent Information Request letters to Forest River and the component supplier, Lippert Components, Inc. (LCI). In response, each provided complaint and warranty information for the subject & peer vehicles and components respectively. ODI visited multiple Recreational Vehicle (RV) dealers to survey their pre-delivery and maintenance inspections. In addition to local dealerships, ODI visited the Columbus, Forest River and LCI axle plants. ODI observed the hub assembly process at LCI and noted that the hub and bearings are assembled at a subassembly station and greased before transferring them to the main line for assembly on the axle. This allows for grease to escape the seal before ever being assembled. If the grease is not completely removed by the employee just prior to assembly, it may remain on the braking surface. A thorough review of the available data revealed one crash. The crash was minor and although an injury was reported, ODI was not able to confirm as no police report had been generated. ODI attempted to interview both parties; however, the subject vehicle owner was the only respondent. At the time of the incident, no injuries were apparent and the police therefore did not respond. The subject vehicle owner later learned that the other party claimed an injury. ODI's review of warranty data indicated that most owners recognized an issue with their trailer brakes early in the life of the trailer. RVs are typically returned to the dealer for warranty work after the first month or two of ownership. Many units were corrected during this initial break in period. Others were c
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.