Investigations
Supply and return heater hose rupture
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE20001 - closed, opened 2020-03-13.
NHTSA investigation PE20001 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2020-03-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2020-09-21 - 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 PE20001 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 letter dated August 31, 2020, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in certain model year (MY) 2017-2020 J4500 vehicles. An ODI review of Ear..." 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 letter dated August 31, 2020, Motor Coach Industries (MCI) notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of a safety defect that may exist in certain model year (MY) 2017-2020 J4500 vehicles. An ODI review of Early Warning Reporting (EWR) submissions by MCI, on MY 2017-2019 J4500 buses, identified ruptured heater hoses on multiple motor coaches leading to the vehicles becoming disabled. ODI communications with fleets found that a low coolant level light with an audible warning would provide notice to the bus driver to pull off the roadway before the bus shut down to prevent catastrophic engine damage. According to the fleets interviewed, there is not sufficient time between the warning and the engine shutting down to allow the driver to pull to a safe location. Multiple reports/interviews describe buses requiring passenger transfer to a second bus at roadside. Analysis of data provided by MCI in response to an ODI Information Request (IR) letter showed an elevated frequency of heater hose ruptures. The heater hoses may fail, resulting in a low coolant warning followed by an engine shut down sequence, as well as the potential for engine coolant spilling on the roadway. Following discussions with ODI about the elevated failure rates on the heater hoses, MCI decided to conduct safety recall 20V-526. With recall action 20V-526 taken by MCI, this investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other model or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID Using the following identification number: 10168841
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.