NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-031: Pass-Through Power Stud Corrosion
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE11-031 on September 12, 2011 and closed it on February 2, 2012. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Thomas Built Buses C2 and Thomas C2 for it and links recall 11V-503 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE11-031 (also written PE11031)
- 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 February 2, 2012
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturers
- FREIGHTLINER LLC; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
- Components
- Electrical System; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 11V-503: PASS-THROUGH POWER STUDS/POSSIBLE FIRE, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- Thomas Built Buses C2 and Thomas C2
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-031.
ODI received a complaint regarding a corroded battery post located behind a service panel near the driver's seat on a 2006 Thomas Built C2 school bus that resulted in a fire on the vehicle.
It was determined that like buses built prior to a December 26, 2005 design change which added a flange to the lower edge of the panel were susceptible to water intrusion.
The design change was meant to address concerns of loose panels but consequently prevented water ingress and the subject corrosion. Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) submitted a recall notice on October 18, 2011 involving 3,300 of the estimated 6,139 vehicles subject to this investigation.
In subsequent communication with ODI, DTNA explained that nearly two thirds of 4,773 MY2007 vehicles were built with the December 26 design change and therefore do not contain the safety related defect.
DTNA's announcement of a safety recall on this matter, and subsequent explanation of the scope of vehicles involved, addresses ODI's concerns.
The 573 letter was received prior to the due date of the IR response, therefore DTNA has been relieved from having to submit an IR response.
DTNA will inspect, clean, repair and protect power cables as needed.
The subject vehicles have been recalled and this investigation is closed.
The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) number: 10395455
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-031. 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.
Thomas
Thomas C2
Thomas Built Buses
All Thomas Built Buses 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 PE11-031
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.