Investigations
DRAW PIN BOX
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE99041 - closed, opened 1999-06-16.
NHTSA investigation PE99041 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1999-06-16 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1999-11-16 - 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 PE99041 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: "The pin box/king pin assembly is the attachment point between the fifth wheel trailer and the towing vehicle. Should a complete fracturer occur in service, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle. In 19..." 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
The pin box/king pin assembly is the attachment point between the fifth wheel trailer and the towing vehicle. Should a complete fracturer occur in service, the trailer could become detached from the towing vehicle. In 1997, Fleetwood replaced the 7 gage steel used to construct the pin box with 11 gage steel, which is about 30 percent thinner. In mid 1998, Fleetwood went back to the thicker steel and has provided dealers with drawings and specifications to repair vehicles in the field with the thicker steel pin box.
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.