NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE12-037: Loss of Emergency Power & Accessories
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE12-037 on December 7, 2012 and closed it on June 6, 2013. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 Road Rescue Ambulance for it and links recall 13V-213 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE12-037 (also written PE12037)
- 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 June 6, 2013
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- ROAD RESCUE, INC.
- Components
- Electrical System; Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery — Cables; Electrical System — Wiring; Electrical System — Wiring — Rear Compartment/Trunk; Electrical System — Wiring — Fuses and Circuit Breakers
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 13V-213: Loss of Ambulance Electrical Power, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2008 Road Rescue Ambulance
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-037.
On December 7, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on 2008 Model Year (MY) Road Rescue EV Ambulances. The PE was opened to determine whether a loss of emergency power and accessories to the patient cab area creates an unreasonable risk to patients or emergency personnel.
By letter dated May 17, 2013, Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc. notified ODI that it had initiated a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 13V-213) to address a safety defect in the vehicles subject to this investigation.
According to Wheeled Coach, a failure of the master power disconnect switch can occur, which terminates flow of 12vDC electrical service to the ambulance patient cab.
Failure of the programming in the primary multiplex node can affect portions of 12vDC electrical service, including a complete loss of power to the ambulance patient cab.
In the event of a failure, the accessory electrical functions such as siren, warning lights and interior patient compartment lights may be intermittent or fail to operate.
Wheeled Coach has informed ODI that the chassis function and drivability are not affected.
Wheeled Coach's recall action addresses the issues raised by this investigation and, as a result, this investigation is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE12-037. 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.
Road Rescue
Road Rescue Ambulance
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 PE12-037
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.