NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-032: Trailer Structural Cracks
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-032 on September 20, 2013 and closed it on March 10, 2014. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008–2013 Cornhusker Hopper for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-032 (also written PE13032)
- 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 March 10, 2014
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- CORNHUSKER 800
- Component
- Structure — Frame and Members
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2008–2013 Cornhusker Hopper
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 PE13-032.
try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.
This investigation was open based on information ODI received through Early Warning Reporting.
After gathering data, interviewing fleets and analyzing the available information ODI has not identified a safety defect trend.
In response to an ODI request, Cornhusker reported 36 warranty claims related to the alleged defect.
None of the claims resulted in a loss of vehicle control.
In all cases the driver identified the component failure and placed the vehicle out of service without incident.
ODI was concerned that a structural member failure would allow the trailer to separate or to drop down and contact the drive tires and increase the risk of a crash.
However, no reports of these conditions were received. ODI also requested fleet contact information and spoke with five fleets.
When asked if this condition created a safety risk, none answered affirmatively.
All responding fleets were easily able to identify the failure and get it corrected without injury or property damage.
Cornhusker provided a finite element analysis (FEA) of the failure area that showed how the structural members were failing and explained that the area in question was ahead of the kingpin and centered in the middle of the trailer.
Cornhusker stated that even in cases of extreme neglect and failure, the pin plate bowed up slightly, but showed no signs of the trailer separating or falling down on the tractor driving wheels.
In comparing the failure mode on the trailers subject of this investigation with trailers that have been recalled for similar failure modes, ODI found that in recall 06V-336 from Wilson Trailer Co. the area in question was behind the kingpin and to the side where the assembly attaches to the trailer bottom rail.
When structure in this area fails, the trailer could fall down and contact the driving wheels on the tractor causing loss of vehicle control.
ODI found that the average in-service time to failure was 34 months, with 93% of failures occurring prior to 4 years of service.
At this time, the majority of trailers (77%) have already passed this milestone.
Cornhusker has been requested to notify ODI of any additional failures which occur prior to March 31, 2015 at which point all of the subject trailers will have reached 4 years in service.
ODI is not aware of any allegations of subject trailers becoming detached or contacting the drive wheels of the towing vehicle due to the alleged defect.
There have been no reports of crash or loss of vehicle control related to the alleged defect.
There have been no reports of property damage beyond the subject trailer and all affected trailers have been repaired and returned to service.
There have been no reports of injury or death.
A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.
Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.
The agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-032. 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.
Cornhusker
Cornhusker Hopper
- 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
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 PE13-032
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.