NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA00-015: FUEL TANK VENT HOSE LEAKAGE

  • Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA00-015 on May 22, 2000 and closed it on January 4, 2001. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1993–1998 Nissan Quest for it and links recalls 00V419001 and 00V419002 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number
EA00-015 (also written EA00015)
Investigation type
Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status
Closed January 4, 2001
Opened
Closed
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Component
Vehicle Speed Control — Linkages
Recalls linked by NHTSA
  • 00V419001: NISSAN/FUEL TANK VENT HOSE, reported
  • 00V419002: FORD/FUEL TANK VENT HOSE, reported
Vehicles and equipment
1993–1998 Nissan Quest

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA00-015.

PERIODIC EXPOSURE TO LIQUID GASOLINE MAY RESULT IN EXTRACTION OF ANTIDEGRADANTS FROM THE SUBJECT FUEL TANK VENT HOSE.HOSES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED LOSS OF ANTIDEGRADANT CAN DEVELOP CRACKS IN AREAS OF HIGH STRAIN.FUEL MAY SPRAY OR DRIP FROM CRACKED VENT HOSES FOLLOWING TANK FILL.STARTING AT JOB#1 1998 MY (CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS VEHICLES) AND JOB#1 1999 MY (FEDERAL EMISSIONS VEHICLES), THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE COMPOSITION CHANGED FROM NITRILE RUBBER HOSES WITH CHLOROPRENE RUBBER COVERS (NBR/CR) TO FLUORACBON RUBBER HOSES WHICH AN OUTER LAYER BLEND OF NBR/PVC.THE CHANGES WER MADE TO IMPROVE HYDRACARBON RESISTANCE FOR COMPLAINCE WITH NEW EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS REGULATIONS.THE MODIFIED HOSES ARE ALSO SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESISTANT OT DEGRADATION AND CRACIKING. IN A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 14, 2000, NISSAN NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE SUBJECT VENT HOSE IN AFFECTD VEHICLES WITH THE REDESIGNED HOSE.NISSAN WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES ON FEBRUARY 5, 2001.

NISSAN WILL FINISH ITS OWNER MAILINGS ON SEPTEMBER 10, 2001.

OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN REVERSE ORDER OF VEHICLE AGE.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA00-015. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Nissan VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA00-015

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.