Investigations
EXHAUST SYSTEM HEAT
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87042 - closed, opened 1987-08-07.
NHTSA investigation PE87042 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-08-07 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-11-09 - 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 PE87042 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: HIGH UNDERHOOD AND EXHAUSTTEMPERATURES ARE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CONCERN INVOLVING A VERY LIMITEDNUMBER OF VEHICLES OPERATED BY A FEW SEVERE SERVICE FLEET LOCATIONS. "WEARE NOT..." 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: HIGH UNDERHOOD AND EXHAUSTTEMPERATURES ARE A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CONCERN INVOLVING A VERY LIMITEDNUMBER OF VEHICLES OPERATED BY A FEW SEVERE SERVICE FLEET LOCATIONS. "WEARE NOT AWARE OF ANY ACCIDENTS OR FIRES CAUSED BY THE CONDITION, AND WE DONOT CONSIDER IT TO PRESENT A RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY."ANALYSIS: EPA REQUIREMENTS FOR HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES CAUSED EMISSION SYSTEMCHANGES FOR THE 1985 AND 1987 CALENDAR YEARS. BEGINNING IN 1985 DUAL AIRPUMPS REPLACED THE SINGLE UNIT, AND DUAL CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE ADDED IN1987. THE CHANGES INCREASED UNDERHOOD AND EXHAUST SYSTEM TEMPERATURES.CONCERNS INCLUDE DRIVEABILITY AND VAPOR LOCK PROBLEMS DUE TO HOT FUELHANDLING AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE 4 WD DISCONNECT VACUUM RESERVOIR, EXHAUSTSYSTEM HANGERS, SPEEDOMETER CABLE, AND WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE. CURRENTLYMEANS TO REDUCE AND BETTER MANAGE THE TEMPERATURES ARE BEING STUDIED.CONSIDERATIONS ARE: AIR PUMP DIVERTER SYSTEMS, HEAT SHIELD FOR AFFECTEDUNDER BODY COMPONENTS, AND REROUTING FUEL SUPPLY LINES AWAY FROM HEATSOURCES. ADDITIONALLY FIVE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUEDREGARDING VAPOR LOCK ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS PE. NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT HAS BEENDETECTED.===
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.