Investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87024 - closed, opened 1987-03-24.
NHTSA investigation PE87024 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-03-24 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-05-01 - 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 PE87024 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: SUBJECT VEHICLES USE AN AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHICH, FOR EARLIERMODEL YEARS, WAS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF EA84-015: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN1981-83 AMC VEHICLES USING AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES. THIS EA WAS CLOSED IN..." 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
ANALYSIS: SUBJECT VEHICLES USE AN AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINE WHICH, FOR EARLIERMODEL YEARS, WAS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF EA84-015: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN1981-83 AMC VEHICLES USING AMC 6-CYLINDER ENGINES. THIS EA WAS CLOSED INJUNE OF 1986. ALTHOUGH AM GENERAL IS THE FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER, AN IRWAS ALSO FORWARDED TO AMC. THE POST OFFICE FLEET IS PRESENTLY EVALUATINGTHE VEHICLES UNDER A VARIETY OF TEST CONDITIONS, IN AN EFFORT TO SIMULATEAN ENGINE FIRE UNDER CONDITIONS WHICH ARE BOTH VERIFIABLE AND REPRODUCIBLE.SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: ON MARCH 30, 1987, AM GENERALISSUED A SAFETY RECALL (87V-041) CONCERNING ALLEGED ENGINE COMPARTMENTFIRES IN THE SUBJECT FLEET. THE RECALL WILL INVOLVE MODIFICATIONS TO THEVACUUM SYSTEM IN AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE FURTHER FIRE OCCURRENCES.STATUS: CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS.===
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.