Investigations
5th Wheel malfunction
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE15023 - closed, opened 2015-06-09.
NHTSA investigation PE15023 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2015-06-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2015-10-02 - 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 PE15023 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: "Fontaine has submitted recall 15E-066 covering Ultra LT 5th wheel produced from July 29, 2009 to May 27, 2013. The affected 5th wheels may experience cumulative damage during coupling procedures that can cause the lockin..." 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
Fontaine has submitted recall 15E-066 covering Ultra LT 5th wheel produced from July 29, 2009 to May 27, 2013. The affected 5th wheels may experience cumulative damage during coupling procedures that can cause the locking mechanism to not properly engage, which could increase the risk of a vehicle crash. This investigation is closed as the affected components have been recalled. In its 2014 second quarter Early Warning Report (EWR), Fontaine reported one Death & Injury (D&I) crash. The crash resulted in two fatalities. The reported crash occurred on January 24, 2014, when a semi-trailer separated from a 2012 International ProStar. The separated trailer struck two oncoming vehicles killing both drivers. After requesting and receiving additional information (including police accident reports) from Fontaine about the crash incident, ODI learned that Federal Motor Carrier Inspectors determined the 5th wheel was fully functional and the crash was most likely due to driver error where the trailer was not properly coupled to the towing vehicle prior to the crash. Before the crash in January 2014, Fontaine had issued two Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) related to potential coupling issues with the Ultra LT 5th wheel. On March 1, 2011 Fontaine issued Service Bulletin SB-10036732-7541 (ODI #10036732) describing a condition in which its Ultra LT 5th wheel could become partially closed during a trailer coupling process. The partial closing could allow a driver who only conducts a pull test during the process to believe the fifth wheel lock is properly coupled to the trailer king pin when in fact it is not. Upon receipt of the March 2011 TSB ODI opened a defect investigation (PE11-012) on the subject 5th wheels. The intent of the investigation was to better understand the false latch conditions on the Ultra LT 5th. The investigation resulted in recalls from DTNA (11V289), PACCAR (11V-388), Volvo (11V-460) and Mack (11V-461). Fontaine did not issue an equipment recall. On April
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.
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