NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-028: Output shaft failure and separation
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE11-028 on August 29, 2011 and closed it on November 22, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 Freightliner models for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE11-028 (also written PE11028)
- 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 22, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturers
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC; FREIGHTLINER LLC
- Components
- Power Train; Power Train — Axle Assembly; Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft; Power Train — Axle Hubs; Power Train — Driveline; Power Train — Driveline — Differential Unit; Power Train — Driveline — Driveshaft; Power Train — Driveline — Universal Joint
- Vehicles and equipment
- 3 Freightliner models, including the Business Class M2 and Columbia
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-028.
On August 29th 2011 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE11-028) on Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) for output shaft failures located in the forward-rear axle carrier of certain class 8 vehicles equipped with Arvin Meritor RT series output shaft assemblies.
At the time of this (PE) opening, ODI was aware of a field campaign and two field reports thought to be related to this alleged safety concern.
The DTNA campaign address a risk resulting from an incorrect heat treatment process of the output shaft (SF441AB); which was initially believed to be associated with the two field reports.
On October 21st 2011 ODI received DTNA's PE Information Request (IR) letter response which indicated no additional complaints or field reports related to the alleged defect.
ODI also learned that the two original field reports noted in the opening resume were U-joint failures and were unrelated to the service campaign. DTNA claimed a total of 96 warranty claims, all related to performing the service campaign but unrelated to any field failures. Upon receiving DTNA's PE-IR letter response ODI learned that even if a fracture were to occur in relation to the alleged defect, it would be located at the base of the splined section of the shaft opposite the output yoke and inside the axle housing.
The Output shaft assembly is bolted into the axle housing and will remain secure in the event of a fracture. Based on the fact that there are no consumer complaints, injuries or field reports and the benign consequence of the alleged defect, ODI is closing this investigation.
ODI will continue to monitor this field campaign.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-028. 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.
Freightliner
All Freightliner 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 PE11-028
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.