Investigations
CNG Fuel System Integrity
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE14020 — closed, opened 2014-07-07 and involving the FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2.
NHTSA investigation PE14020 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2014-07-07 and currently closed. The subject of record is FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for FREIGHTLINER. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2016-02-05 — 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 PE14020 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 April 3, 2014 in Howard, Wisconsin, a model year 2014 Freightliner Business Class M2 truck manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DNTA) experienced a catastrophic CNG fuel container burst when it was struck..." 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. Related FREIGHTLINER files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
On April 3, 2014 in Howard, Wisconsin, a model year 2014 Freightliner Business Class M2 truck manufactured by Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DNTA) experienced a catastrophic CNG fuel container burst when it was struck by an unsecured forklift being transported inside the truck's cargo compartment. A contractor working for the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) Special Crash Investigations (SCI) Program conducted a field examination of the incident vehicle and the incident scene (SCI Case Number: IN14016). The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) subsequently sent an information request letter to DTNA and received two responses dated January 23, 2015 and June 24, 2015, respectively. ODI continues to evaluate the CNG fuel system integrity on the subject vehicles and other medium- & heavy-duty CNG vehicles. ODI also continues to investigate CNG fuel system integrity related incidents as they arise. ODI has engaged industry on this subject at various meetings, seminars and conferences, and through involvement in committees hosted by industry and standards development organizations including the Natural Gas Vehicles for America (NGVAmerica) national trade association and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ CSA Group. This Preliminary Evaluation has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA16-001) so that ODI may gather additional information about CNG fuel system integrity from additional vehicle manufacturers, fuel system integrators and component suppliers and continue to engage with stakeholders to better understand the industry state of the art and the hazard potential.
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.
Other FREIGHTLINER Investigations
EVDM connector plate separation
Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
Rear Wheel Speed Sensor Failure
Intermittent Loss of Power Steering Assist
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.