Investigations
DEFECTIVE DRAW BAR
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87007 - closed, opened 1986-11-25.
NHTSA investigation PE87007 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1986-11-25 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-10-01 - 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 PE87007 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: THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THETRAILERS AND DRAWBARS WERE BUILT TO A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFICATIONS. ALLEGEDLYA SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A DRAWBAR BREAKING. DELTA CONTACTED 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: THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT THETRAILERS AND DRAWBARS WERE BUILT TO A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFICATIONS. ALLEGEDLYA SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A DRAWBAR BREAKING. DELTA CONTACTED THEODI STAFF TO CLARIFY WHO HAS THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THEPROBLEM.ANALYSIS: DURING CERTAIN "JACK KNIFE" TURNS IN CLOSE QUARTERS MANEUVERS,THE DRAWBAR MAY HIT A REINFORCING WING PLATE ON THE PINTLE HOOK STRUCTURE,WHICH CAUSES THE DRAWBAR TO BEND RESULTING IN THE REAR TRAILER NOT TRACK-ING TRUE. DELTA REPORTS IN SOME CASES THE DRAWBAR BECOMES KINKED, SETTINGUP CONDITIONS FOR A CRACK TO GENERATE. DELTA FOUND THAT WHEN THEREINFORCING PLATES WERE REMOVED, DAMAGE TO THE DRAWBARS CEASED. DELTAREMOVED THE TRAILERS FROM SERVICE ON APPROXIMATELY JUNE 5, 1987, AND BEGANMAKING THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. IT APPEARS THAT DELTA IS REPAIRING THE UNITSTO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS DUE TO A FAILURE. A RECALL REQUEST TOLEGITIMIZE DELTA'S CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS SENT ON JULY 30, 1987. DELTA HASNOT RESPONDED TO THE LETTER, NOR HAVE THEY RESPONDED TO TELEPHONE MESSAGES.PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THE PE TO AN EA.===
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.