Investigations
LOSS OF BRAKES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE86070 - closed, opened 1986-08-01.
NHTSA investigation PE86070 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1986-08-01 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-03-13 - 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 PE86070 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 HAS NOT BEENCONTACTED.ANALYSIS: ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN DUE TOILLUSIVE SYMPTOMS. WHEN THE PRESSURE PLATE HANGS UP, THERE IS REDUCEDAV..." 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 HAS NOT BEENCONTACTED.ANALYSIS: ANALYSIS REVEALS THAT THE PROBLEM IS RELATIVELY UNKNOWN DUE TOILLUSIVE SYMPTOMS. WHEN THE PRESSURE PLATE HANGS UP, THERE IS REDUCEDAVAILABLE STROKE TO THE SLACK ADJUSTER. IF THE HANG UP OCCURS AFTER ABRAKE ADJUSTMENT, BRAKE DRAG, OVERHEATING DRUMS, AND ACCELERATED BRAKESHOE WEAR MAY RESULT. A MAINTENANCE PERSON INSPECTING A BRAKE SYSTEM FORPROPER STROKE COULD EASILY MISINTERPRET A HUNG UP PRESSURE PLATE AS ANIMPROPERLY ADJUSTED SLACK ADJUSTOR. ASSUMING THAT AN ADJUSTMENT WAS MADETO BRING THE STROKE INTO THE NORMAL SPECIFICATION RANGE, THE RESULT WOULDBE REDUCED STROKE, WHICH MEANS REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY. SAFETYIMPLICATIONS ALSO RESULT WHEN AN AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER IS BEINGUTILIZED. MOST LIKELY THE UNIT WOULD SENSE A SHORT STROKE AND NOT ADJUSTUNTIL THE STROKE ACHIEVED ITS DESIGN ADJUST POSITION. THIS TOO WOULDRESULT IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE PROBLEM REPORTS ARE PROBABLYDILUTED DUE TO THE MISINTERPRETATION OF THE SYMPTOM BY MAINTENANCE ANDSERVICE PERSONNEL UNEDUCATED IN THIS MATTER.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN A PE. SEND AN IR TO THE MANUFACTURER. CONTACTOEM'S AND FLEETS TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM.
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.