Investigations
Alternator Front Bearing Failure
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE21011 — closed, opened 2021-05-13.
NHTSA investigation PE21011 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2021-05-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2022-10-03 — 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 PE21011 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: "NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation after reviewing field reports concerning alternator front bearing failures that cause elevated temperatures within the engine compartment, res..." 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
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation after reviewing field reports concerning alternator front bearing failures that cause elevated temperatures within the engine compartment, resulting in the fire suppression system (FSS) activating, immediately shutting the engine down, and rendering the bus inoperable. Analysis of the data provided by Prevost Car (US) Inc. showed high failure frequency and thermal events. An immediate shutdown of the bus can increase the risk of a crash or injury of bus occupants. In response to this investigation, Prevost Car (US) Inc. and Volvo Bus Corporation decided to conduct recalls 22V-221 and 22V-222. By submitting Part 573 Defect Information Reports on April 6, 2022, Prevost Car (US) Inc. and Volvo Bus Corporation notified ODI of a safety defect in certain model year (MY) 2010-2023 Prevost H3-45; X3-45; X3-45 Com; H3-45 VIP: X3-45 VIP and 2020 Volvo 9700 vehicles; some of these buses may have experienced thermal events after failure of the alternator front bearing, because the alternator belt continues to turn the alternator after the bearing failure. These recall actions address the safety concern that led to the opening of this investigation. Therefore, with these recall actions, this investigation is closed. The recalls encompass all model and MY vehicles addressed by the investigation. However, the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in other model or MY vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.