Investigations
RAPID RELEASE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE86075 - closed, opened 1986-08-25.
NHTSA investigation PE86075 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1986-08-25 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1986-11-20 - 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 PE86075 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 MANUFACTURERS: BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDEDTO ODI, INQUIRIES WERE SENT TO FIVE TOWSTRAP SUPPLIERS. B&G'S OFF ROADMANUFACTURING CO.'S INQUIRY WAS RETURNED BY THE POSTAL SERVICE "UNCLAIMED".EVE..." 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 MANUFACTURERS: BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDEDTO ODI, INQUIRIES WERE SENT TO FIVE TOWSTRAP SUPPLIERS. B&G'S OFF ROADMANUFACTURING CO.'S INQUIRY WAS RETURNED BY THE POSTAL SERVICE "UNCLAIMED".EVER WEAR PRODUCTS, INC., WAS FOUND TO HAVE CLOSED OPERATIONS IN DECEMBER,1985, AND ALL RECORDS WERE REPORTED AS BEING ABANDONED OR LOST. BANKSENTERPRISES, INC., ADVISED THAT IT IS IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS. RACOPACKAGING COMPANY ADVISED, "WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH STRAPPING. YOUHAVE THE WRONG COMPANY." USA PRODUCTS ADVISED THAT IT IS FAIRLY NEW INTHE MARKET AND, FURTHER, THAT FOR THE 460,230 STRAPS SOLD THROUGH AUGUSTL986, THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS OR LAWSUITS. USA PRODUCTSSUBMITTED WITH ITS RESPONSE SAMPLES OF SEWN-IN LABELS, PACKAGE WRAPPERSAND PACKAGE INSERTS, ALL OF WHICH HAVE IMPRINTED USAGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THECUSTOMER.ANALYSIS: ODI HAS NO COMPLAINTS OR ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING TOWSTRAPS SOLDBY USA PRODUCTS. A REVIEW OF THE LABELS AND PACKAGING MATERIALSSUBMITTED BY USA PRODUCTS DISCLOSED CLEAR WARNINGS TO USERS TO ATTACHTHE STRAPS ONLY TO VEHICLE FRAMES AND TO AVOID SUDDEN JERKS TO FREESTUCK VEHICLES. THE LABELS DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL SLINGSHOT HAZARD ANDCAUTION USERS TO POSITION THEMSELVES AWAY FROM THE TOWSTRAPS OR BEHINDBARRICADES WHILE VEHICLES ARE BEING FREED.SINCE NO COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED AGAINST USA PRODUCTS, IT APPEARS THATTHEIR WARNING LABELS ADEQUATELY PROTECT USERS OF THEIR PRODUCTS. BECAUSETHE COMPANIES FOR WHICH WE HAVE COMPLAINTS HAVE CEASED DOING BUSINESS ORCANNOT BE LOCATED, NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS POSSIBLE.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.===
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.