Investigations
ELASTIC STRAP FAILURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88009 - closed, opened 1987-11-19.
NHTSA investigation PE88009 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-11-19 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 PE88009 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 BIC SPORTRACK IS SOLD INSEVERAL MODEL DESIGNATIONS WHICH DIFFER ONLY BY SIZE. THE BASIC ROOFTOPRACK IS CONVERTED FOR BICYCLE TRANSPORT BY INSTALLATION OF A CONVERSIONKIT. THE..." 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 BIC SPORTRACK IS SOLD INSEVERAL MODEL DESIGNATIONS WHICH DIFFER ONLY BY SIZE. THE BASIC ROOFTOPRACK IS CONVERTED FOR BICYCLE TRANSPORT BY INSTALLATION OF A CONVERSIONKIT. THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED INFORMATION TO NHTSA/ODI DETAILING THERESULTS OF HIS PERSONAL SURVEY OF BICYCLE SHOPS AND OWNERS IN AN EFFORT TOASSESS THE SCOPE BIC BICYCLE/SPORT RACK FAILURES. REPORTEDLY, THE ELASTICSTRAPS WHICH SECURE THE BICYCLE RACK TO THE ROOF OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, FAILWHEN LOADED AND SUBJECTED TO THE STRAIN CAUSED BY VEHICLE MOTION. SUCHFAILURES PERMIT THE RACK AND ITS CONTENTS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLEWHILE IN MOTION.THE 32 COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER INVOLVE PROPERTY DAMAGE ONLY;USUALLY INVOLVING THE BICYCLES BEING TRANSPORTED. FIFTEEN OF THESE CASESINVOLVED USE OF AN INCORRECT MODEL FOR THE VEHICLE SIZE.ANALYSIS: INSPECTIONS BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THOSE SPORT RACKS THAT AREALLEGED TO HAVE FAILED DISCLOSED NO CONSISTENT CAUSE THAT MAY BE FAIRLYATTRIBUTED TO THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE RACKS. FIFTEEN CASES WEREFOUND TO RESULT FROM USE OF THE INCORRECT RACK MODEL, THREE INVOLVED BROKENOR MISSING PARTS, TWO INVOLVED FAILURE TO USE THE TIE DOWN STRAPS, FOURINVOLVED NO IDENTIFIABLE DEFICIENCY, AND EIGHT RACKS WERE NOT RETURNED TOBIC FOR INSPECTION.THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A LEGAL DISPUTE BETWEEN BIC AND THE PRINCIPALCOMPLAINANT TO NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. THE DISPUTE APPARENTLY INCLUDES ANALLEGATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF MONEY FOR PRODUCTS PURCHASED AND DELIVERED.THE PRINCIPAL COMPLAINANT WAS ALSO THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION UPONWHICH THIS PE WAS INITIATED.NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.======
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.