NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-006: Blocked Fuel Delivery Resulting in Stall
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-006 on March 18, 2013 and closed it on August 26, 2013. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 for it and links recalls 13V-364 and 13V-365 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-006 (also written PE13006)
- 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 August 26, 2013
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Components
- Fuel System, Diesel; Fuel System, Diesel — Storage — Tank Assembly; Fuel System, Other — Delivery
- Recalls linked by NHTSA
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2013 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-006.
ODI was made aware of multiple allegations of engine stall resulting from a loose barcode sticker in the fuel tank of certain model year (MY) 2012 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner transit style buses manufactured by Thomas Built Buses, Inc. (TBB).
The loose barcode sticker from a diesel powered cab heater (installed in some cold weather state buses) may become lodged in the fuel delivery pickup tube and restrict fuel flow. Early analysis suggested that at least one failure resulted in a school bus being stranded on an interstate highway.
Additionally, ODI identified 6 Early Warning Reporting (EWR) reports that appear related to the alleged defect, and TBB informed ODI that it was aware of nine (9) other related field reports for a total of fifteen (15) alleged incidents.
Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), parent company of TBB, submitted a recall notice dated August 13, 2013 (13V-365 for school buses and 13V-364 for non-school buses) that addresses ODI's concerns.
Fuel tanks will be inspected for the presence of a label.
If a label is found, it will be removed from the tank.
As a result of the DTNA remedial action this investigation is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-006. 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 Built Buses
Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2
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 PE13-006
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.