NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-028: Sway Bar End Link Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-028 on August 26, 2013 and closed it on February 19, 2014. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009–2014 Spartan MM for it and links recall 14V-020 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-028 (also written PE13028)
- 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 19, 2014
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Shyft Group
- Components
- Steering — Linkages; Suspension — Front
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 14V-020: Front Sway Bar End Links may Break, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2009–2014 Spartan MM
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-028.
On August 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this preliminary evaluation after evaluating a Campaign Service Bulletin (CSB) 12-250-002 (NHTSA ID No. 10051812) issued by Spartan Chassis, Inc.
The CSB related to sway bar end link failures on certain motorhome chassis manufactured between April 2, 2009 and January 14, 2013.
In response to ODI's information request letter, Spartan conducted a detailed analysis of its claim data related to sway bar end link failures on the subject chassis.
Spartan determined that a certain population of model MM motorhome chassis equipped with its model 1253 front suspension were experiencing an increased rate of failure.
The population identified incorporated a design change that occurred in late 2009.
This change increased the rebound travel of the front suspension resulting in a binding condition that could cause the sway bar end links to fail.
A broken sway bar end link can potentially cause poor vehicle handling that could increase the risk of a vehicle crash.
Based on the results of their analysis, Spartan decided to issue a defect notice and conduct a safety recall to replace the existing sway bar end links with new units and an improved mounting.
Based on Spartan's decision to conduct a safety recall (14V-020), ODI is closing this investigation.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-028. 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.
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 PE13-028
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.