NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-022: Engine Oil Cooler Line Detachment
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE11-022 on July 18, 2011 and closed it on November 3, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005–2006 Lotus Elise for it and links recalls 11V-510 and 13V-041 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE11-022 (also written PE11022)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed November 3, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Lotus Cars Limited
- Components
- Engine and Engine Cooling; Engine and Engine Cooling — Cooling System — Hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings
- Recalls linked by NHTSA
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2005–2006 Lotus Elise
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-022.
On October 14, 2011, Lotus Cars USA Inc. notified the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) that it will conduct a safety recall (11V-510) to address concerns with engine oil cooler lines detaching from its crimped fitting on MY 2005-2006 Lotus Elise vehicles.
In its 573 report to ODI, Lotus indicated that they have identified instances where the oil cooler lines would detach from their fittings.
Lotus attributes this condition to a majority of single supplier affected parts built from June 2004 to November 2006.
Lotus states that the cause of the failure is an inadequate process by which the hose is crimped into its fitting by the supplier.
In October 2006 the supplier implemented an improved crimping process.
Reports indicated that this condition can occur while driving or while the vehicle is stationary with the engine running.
In cases where the failure occurred while driving, oil would be expelled under pressure and could come into contact with the tires and or brake friction surfaces, potentially causing a loss of braking or vehicle control. One crash and one vehicle fire were also reported with no injuries.
Additionally Lotus indicated that the same condition can occur in MY 2005-2006 Exige vehicles as well. These vehicles are also included in the recall.
The action taken by Lotus is sufficient to resolve the issues raised by this investigation.
This investigation is therefore closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-022. 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.
Lotus
All Lotus recallsWhat 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 PE11-022
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.