NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA07-016: OVERHEATING DISC BRAKE CALIPER
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA07-016 on November 16, 2007 and closed it on August 19, 2009. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 Workhorse models for it and links 7 recalls to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA07-016 (also written EA07016)
- 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 August 19, 2009
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- WORKHORSE CUSTOM CHASSIS
- Component
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic
- Recalls linked by NHTSA
- 09V-110: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-186: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-193: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-198: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-204: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-206: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- 09V-217: OVERHEATED BRAKE CALIPERS/BOSCH/WORKHORSE, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 3 Workhorse models, including the W20 and W22
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA07-016.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
THE EA WAS OPENED TO GAIN A TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CAUSES FOR ONE OR MORE DISC BRAKE CALIPERS ON A SUBJECT VEHICLE TO SUFFER SEVERE OVERHEATING. THE OVERHEATING CAUSED BRAKE DRAG, MELTING ABS SENSORS, SMOKING, BRAKE LINING FIRES, AND IN SOME CASES BOILING BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN DIMINISHED STOPPING CAPABILITY.BASED ON TESTING, WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA ANALYSIS, FIELD TRIPS AND INTERVIEWS WITH OWNERS, MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS, ODI BELIEVES THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT IS WATER SWELL OF THE PHENOLIC CALIPER PISTON AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE PISTON TO FULLY RETURN AFTER THE PEDAL IS RELEASED.A TECHNICAL REPORT IS ATTACHED WITH FULL DETAILS.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA07-016. 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.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for EA07-016
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.