Investigations
MUFFLERS EXPLODE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87021 - closed, opened 1987-02-09.
NHTSA investigation PE87021 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-02-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-05-14 - 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 PE87021 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. RECALL AND SERVICE BULLETIN FILES WILL BE SEARCHED.ANALYSIS: THREE SCHOOL BUS BODY COMPANIES INDICATE THAT THE SUBJECTVEHICLES ARE PRONE TO VI..." 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. RECALL AND SERVICE BULLETIN FILES WILL BE SEARCHED.ANALYSIS: THREE SCHOOL BUS BODY COMPANIES INDICATE THAT THE SUBJECTVEHICLES ARE PRONE TO VIOLENT BACKFIRING. REPORTEDLY THE PROBLEM OCCURS ASTHE CHASSIS IS DRIVEN ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE. EXPLOSIONS ARE REPORTED ASSEVERE, WITH MUFFLERS BEING BLOWN OPEN, SPEWING SHRAPNEL, FLAMES, ANDSPARKS. REPORTEDLY ONE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED SINGED HAIR AND EYEBROWS. ASECOND EMPLOYEE SUFFERED DEAFNESS IN ONE EAR EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS WEARINGAPPROPRIATE EAR PROTECTION. THE PROBLEM MAY BE RELATED TO CHANGES IN THEFUEL AND EMISSION SYSTEMS, IMPROPER USE OF THE MANUAL CHOKE, AND NUMEROUSENGINE STARTS AND SHUTDOWNS ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.PROPOSED ACTION: TO OPEN A 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.