Investigations
LINING SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE86054 - closed, opened 1986-05-09.
NHTSA investigation PE86054 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1986-05-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1986-07-31 - 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 PE86054 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: "SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT AQUALITY CONTROL ERROR TOOK PLACE. EITHER AN IMPROPERLY SIZED RIVET WASINSTALLED TO SECURE THE LINING, OR THE WRONG MANDREL WAS USED TO CRUSHTHE RIVET. T..." 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
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THAT AQUALITY CONTROL ERROR TOOK PLACE. EITHER AN IMPROPERLY SIZED RIVET WASINSTALLED TO SECURE THE LINING, OR THE WRONG MANDREL WAS USED TO CRUSHTHE RIVET. THE MANUFACTURER ACTS AS HIS OWN DISTRIBUTOR AND WILL BE ABLETO ACCOUNT FOR ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE SHOES. IT APPEARS THAT ALL OF THEDEFECTIVE SHOES WERE INSTALLED ON SCHOOL BUSES.ANALYSIS: BRAKE SHOES WITH INCORRECT RIVETS MAY ALLOW THE LINING TOSEPARATE WHICH COULD JAM AGAINST THE DRUM. THIS MAY RESULT IN THE WHEELASSEMBLY LOCKING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.PROPOSED ACTION: SEND A RECALL REQUEST LETTER.
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.