Investigations
POOR LUG RETENTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88024 - closed, opened 1988-02-05.
NHTSA investigation PE88024 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1988-02-05 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-03-25 - 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 PE88024 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: IN APRIL, 1987 JOHN DEERE & CO. (DEERE) NOTIFIED USERS OF ITSMOTORHOME CHASSIS THAT WHEEL SIMULATORS WHICH USED THE WHEEL LUG NUTS FORATTACHMENT "...CAN CAUSE LUG NUTS TO LOOSEN". THE NOTIFICATION CREATED ADIALO..." 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: IN APRIL, 1987 JOHN DEERE & CO. (DEERE) NOTIFIED USERS OF ITSMOTORHOME CHASSIS THAT WHEEL SIMULATORS WHICH USED THE WHEEL LUG NUTS FORATTACHMENT "...CAN CAUSE LUG NUTS TO LOOSEN". THE NOTIFICATION CREATED ADIALOG BETWEEN WHEEL SIMULATOR MANUFACTURERS AND DEERE WHICH RESULTED INTHE IDENTIFICATION OF THREE MANUFACTURERS WHICH HAD WHEEL SIMULATORS WHICHDID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE WHEEL/LUG NUT JOINT. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR KAPERTO REDESIGN THEIR WHEEL SIMULATOR AND CONDUCT TESTING TO MEET DEERE'SREQUIREMENTS. KAPER NOTIFIED RV BUSINESS THAT ITS NEW WHEEL SIMULATORS HADBEEN REDESIGNED, TESTED, AND FOUND NOT TO INTERFERE WITH THE WHEEL/LUG NUTJOINT. NEITHER KAPER OR DEERE HAVE ANY OWNER REPORTS OF WHEEL PROBLEMSATTRIBUTABLE TO SIMULATORS, THOUGH DEERE DOES IDENTIFY 9 WARRANTY CLAIMSTHAT MAY BE RELATED. #===
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.