NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE14-024: Loss of brake warning lights
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE14-024 on July 22, 2014 and closed it on January 12, 2015. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Isuzu N Series for it and links recall 14V-735 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE14-024 (also written PE14024)
- 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 January 12, 2015
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Isuzu Motors Limited
- Component
- Electrical System
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 14V-735: Brake Light Switch may Bend and/or Corrode, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2013 Isuzu N Series
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE14-024.
On July 22, 2014, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate field reports describing the loss of brake lights in model year (MY) 2013 Isuzu N-series trucks.
During the course of this investigation, Isuzu informed ODI that the subject vehicle population consisted of multiple vehicle configurations including a walk-in step van.
According to Isuzu, the reported brake lamp failures are associated with a brake lamp switch located near the steering column on these walk-in style vans.
Isuzu believes the brake lamp switches in the walk-in vans are susceptible to weather and/or driver foot contact resulting from its open configuration and the drivers seating position.
In more severe circumstances, interference with the brake switch can lead to corrosion and/or brake lamp failure.
The contact and/or bending of the brake switch can interfere with the electrical contact points.
Bending of the brake switch can also result in the plunger sticking or breaking.
Either condition can result in a loss of brake warning lamp operation.
Based on a warranty analysis conducted by Isuzu, 3,564 N-Series walk-in vans built during (MY) 2012 through 2014 are included in recall 14V-735.
The recalled population of vehicles includes the 2,156 walk-in vans subject of this investigations.
Based on ODI's review of Isuzu's analysis of warranty claims data,ODI believes that Isuzu has properly identified the population of vehicles at an unreasonable risk of experiencing a brake lamp failure.
With the recall action taken by Isuzu, this investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.
The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on N-series vehicles outside of the recall scope. The agency reserves the right to 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 PE14-024. 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.
Isuzu
Isuzu N Series
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 PE14-024
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.