Investigations
EXHAUST MANIFOLD LEAKS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88016 - closed, opened 1988-01-14.
NHTSA investigation PE88016 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1988-01-14 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-03-31 - 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 PE88016 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: "SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION."..." 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: "SOME 1981-86 TRUCKS WITH 7.4L ENGINES AND CAST IRON EXHAUSTMANIFOLDS MAY EXPERIENCE A CONDITION WHERE AN EXHAUST LEAK DEVELOPSBETWEEN THE MANIFOLD AND THE CYLINDER HEAD MATING SURFACE CAUSING A NOISECONDITION." MOST OF THE REPORTS (AND ALL OF THE INJURIES AND THEMANIFOLD FIRE) ARE FROM THE P30 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. GM STATES THAT A WARPEDOR CRACKED MANIFOLD WOULD PERMIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF EXHAUST GAS LEAKAGEGENERALLY RESULTING IN NOTICEABLE NOISE AND FUMES. THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDSARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO EXTREME HEAT CONDITIONS (SUCH AS OPERATING UNDER SEVEREENGINE/VEHICULAR LOAD CONDITIONS AND HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES). THEMOTORHOME APPLICATION IS PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECTSINCE THE VEHICLE IS NEARLY ALWAYS AT OR NEAR THE GVWR OF THE VEHICLE. THEFEW NUMBER OF REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FOR A PROBLEM WHICH BEGAN 8 YEARS AGOSUGGESTS THAT THE DEFECT EITHER OCCURS INFREQUENTLY OR IS NOT PERCEIVED ASA SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO IDENTIFYTHE HIGH TEMPERATURE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A REMEDY AGAINST REOCCURRENCE.===
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.