Investigations
DIESEL ENGINE RUNAWAY
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87059 - closed, opened 1987-09-17.
NHTSA investigation PE87059 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-09-17 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-03-18 - 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 PE87059 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 OF MANUFACTURER'S INFORMATION: THE TURBO DIESEL ENGINE ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 80% OF THE DIESEL EQUIPPED SUBJECT VEHICLES. WINNEBAGO STATES THAT POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION OBSTRUCTION, PARTIAL AIR FILTER OBSTRUCT..." 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 OF MANUFACTURER'S INFORMATION: THE TURBO DIESEL ENGINE ACCOUNTS FOR OVER 80% OF THE DIESEL EQUIPPED SUBJECT VEHICLES. WINNEBAGO STATES THAT POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION OBSTRUCTION, PARTIAL AIR FILTER OBSTRUCTION, OVERFILLING THE CRANKCASE, DEFECTIVE "O" RING SEAL IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER TO BRAKE BOOSTER JOINT, AND A DEFECTIVE TURBO FEED BEARING SEAL MAY CAUSE OIL TO BE FORCED INTO THE TURBOCHARGER INTAKE. WINNEBAGO BELIEVES THAT THE ISOLATED OCCURRENCES ARE INSTANCES OF OWNER ABUSE OR LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE.ANALYSIS: REVIEW OF WINNEBAGO'S RESPONSE TO THE OCC SPECIAL ORDER AND THE ODI COMPLAINTS INDICATES THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND IS DEVELOPING. THREE OR FOUR YEARS OF VEHICLE USAGE/EXPOSURE HAS RESULTED IN ONLY 3 REPORTS OUT OF NEARLY 7,000 VEHICLES (0.04%). THIS RATE AND REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, SUPPORTS WINNEBAGO'S POSITION THAT THE PROBLEM IS ISOLATED INSTANCES OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS.===
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.