Investigations
Device can break causing tire to deflate without notification to the operator
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE23009 — closed, opened 2023-05-26.
NHTSA investigation PE23009 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2023-05-26 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2024-12-13 — 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 PE23009 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 June 8, 2023, Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE23009 to investigate reports of air pressure loss from tires equipped with Danko Manufacturing/RViBrake’s (RViBrake) Tire Patrol devi..." 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
On June 8, 2023, Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE23009 to investigate reports of air pressure loss from tires equipped with Danko Manufacturing/RViBrake’s (RViBrake) Tire Patrol device, an aftermarket tire pressure monitoring system. ODI’s initial inquiry determined that RViBrake was aware of 408 sensors being returned under warranty for leaking pressure, including approximately 40 that were reported to have broken in half, leaving the tires’ valve stem core pressed open and leaking air. ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to RViBrake on June 8, 2023. By analyzing the IR Response data, ODI learned that the bulk of the sensors returned under warranty were for dead sensors, or minor but consistent air leaks. The manufacturer believes that many of the warranty claims are user-induced, such as damage from curb strikes or from car washes. However, 41 warranty claims were for lost upper sensor halves, a condition that can cause the tire to deflate, without notification to the operator. This condition is particularly concerning when it occurs to one of the vehicle’s steer axle tires. No crashes or injuries are known to be directly attributable to any of these sensors. RViBrake explained that in the event of a sensor half detachment, the operator would not immediately be warned. The system refreshes the tire pressure information every three minutes, but it is not uncommon for a packet of information to not be received due to interference, especially with the rear wheels, which may be further away from the receiver. If the system does not receive fresh information from the sensor three times in a row, the icon for that sensor becomes greyed out on the display screen. Furthermore, if the system does not receive information from the sensor five times in a row, an audible alert sounds to warn the operator. As part of the IR response, RViBrake supplied a video replicating the worst case scenario. In the video, a broken and separated
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.