Investigations
FIRES
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88006 - closed, opened 1987-11-30.
NHTSA investigation PE88006 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-11-30 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-04-19 - 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 PE88006 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: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORDDISCLOSED 8 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS OF 10 FIRES IN THE LEFT D-PILLAR AREAOF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. NO COLLISION ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED, BUT EACHINCIDE..." 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: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY FORDDISCLOSED 8 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS OF 10 FIRES IN THE LEFT D-PILLAR AREAOF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. NO COLLISION ACCIDENTS WERE REPORTED, BUT EACHINCIDENT INVOLVED PROPERTY DAMAGE DUE TO FIRE. IN ADDITION, FORD'S RECORDSINCLUDE AT LEAST 62 WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR TRAILER LIGHT RELAY ASSEMBLY SHORT/BURNED OUT.FORD ALSO PROVIDED AN UNSIGNED COPY OF AN "INVESTIGATION DOCUMENT RELATEDTO SIX" OF THE COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED. THE DOCUMENT INCLUDES THE ANNOTATION"B&C E, 10/16/87", APPARENTLY REFERRING TO BODY AND CHASSIS ENGINEERING,AND INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS AND FINDINGS: - VEHICLE WATER TESTS AT ST LOUIS ASSEMBLY PLANT INDICATE WATER INTRUSION DOES OCCUR IN THE D-PILLAR AREA AROUND THE FIXED GLASS. BODY SEALING RELEASED BUTYL TAPE (7/86) AND D-PILLAR BAFFLE (8/86). - ROOT CAUSE-TBD -SHORT TERM RESOLUTION INVOLVES COVERING THE RELAY ASSEMBLY WITH A PLASTIC, FIRE-RETARDANT BAG. TRW (SUPPLIER) WILL INSTALL THE BAG AND SHIP THE PRODUCT TO THE ASSEMBLY PLANT. A PERMANENT RESOLUTION WAS NOTED TO INVOLVE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLOSED HOUSING DESIGNED FOR WATER INSENSITIVITY. TRW IS REPORTEDLY PURSUING SUCH A DESIGN WITH AN ESTIMATED 9-12 MONTH LEAD TIME.ANALYSIS: THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF OWNER COMPLAINTS/SERVICE REPORTSIS OFFSET BY THE UNIQUE LOCATION AND EQUIPMENT APPARENTLY INVOLVED IN THEINCIDENTS. THERE IS ALSO EVIDENCE VIA THE WARRANTY REPORT DATA THAT THENUMBER OF ACTUAL FIRE OCCURRENCES MAY BE APPROACHING 100. THERE IS ALSOEVIDENCE THAT FORD IS PURSUING A MODIFICATION OF THE TOW EQUIPMENTELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY AND/ OR PACKAGING. NONETHELESS, FORD STATED "...THEREWERE NO SIGNIFICANT MODIFICATIONS OR COMPONENT CHANGES.....THAT COULDRELATE TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT". IT APPEARS THAT SUCH A MODIFICATION MAY BECURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT.===
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.