Investigations
FIRES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE86055 — closed, opened 1986-05-12 and involving the MASERATI MASERATI.
NHTSA investigation PE86055 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1986-05-12 and currently closed. The subject of record is MASERATI MASERATI, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for MASERATI. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1986-08-28 — 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 PE86055 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: "ANALYSIS: THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY FORWARDED ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT.THE OWNER REPORTED THE OCCURRENCE OF TWO FIRES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OFUNDETERMINED ORIGIN IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE LATEST FIRE RESULTED INFUME INHALA..." 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. Related MASERATI files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ANALYSIS: THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY FORWARDED ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT.THE OWNER REPORTED THE OCCURRENCE OF TWO FIRES AT DIFFERENT TIMES OFUNDETERMINED ORIGIN IN THE REAR OF THE CAR. THE LATEST FIRE RESULTED INFUME INHALATION BY HIS SIX-YEAR OLD GRANDSON WITH SUBSEQUENT MEDICALTREATMENT. BECAUSE OF THE SMALL VEHICLE POPULATION AND THE COMPLAINANT'SALLEGATION THAT HE HAS BEEN TOLD, "THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED SITUATION,RE THE MASERATI BITURBO MODEL", FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION AND SEND AN INFORMATIONREQUEST.
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.
Other MASERATI Investigations
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.