Investigations
SHUTDOWN W/O WARNING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87060 - closed, opened 1987-09-24.
NHTSA investigation PE87060 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-09-24 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-01-04 - 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 PE87060 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 EFFECT OF THIS FAILURE ONTHE USER IS THAT OF A "SIGNIFICANT NUISANCE." INITIAL FAILURE ANALYSIS OFSUBJECT FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOIDS RETURNED UNDER WARRANTY INDICATED 29PERCENT..." 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 EFFECT OF THIS FAILURE ONTHE USER IS THAT OF A "SIGNIFICANT NUISANCE." INITIAL FAILURE ANALYSIS OFSUBJECT FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOIDS RETURNED UNDER WARRANTY INDICATED 29PERCENT OF THE FAILURES WERE ELECTRICAL, 42 PERCENT MECHANICAL AND 29PERCENT HAD NO FAILURE AND PROBABLY WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY DIAGNOSIS.CHANGES WERE MADE TO RESOLVE THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROBLEMS.SOLENOID FAILURE HISTORY IMPROVED UNTIL SUPPLIER'S COIL SOURCE WAS CHANGED,AGAIN RESULTING IN HIGH FAILURE RATES. CURRENTLY FIELD FAILURE STATISTICSCOVERING THE LATEST SOLENOID MODIFICATION ARE BEING EVALUATED TO DETERMINEIF THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED.ANALYSIS: FAILURE OF THE FUEL SOLENOID RESULTS IN THE ENGINE STOPPINGWITHOUT WARNING OR REFUSING TO START. SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE WITHOUTWARNING COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO PROPERLY STEER THETRUCK AND POSSIBLY LEAD TO A DECREASE IN AIR BRAKE TANK PRESSURE.PROPOSED ACTION: UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA. SEND AN IR.===
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.