NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE17-001: Motorcycle Stalling
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE17-001 on March 7, 2017 and closed it on November 13, 2017. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2014–2015 Suzuki DL1000 for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE17-001 (also written PE17001)
- 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 November 13, 2017
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Suzuki Motor USA, LLC
- Components
- Electrical System — Ignition; Engine; Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery; Fuel System, Other — Delivery; Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control — Cables; Vehicle Speed Control — Linkages
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2014–2015 Suzuki DL1000
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 PE17-001.
On March 3rd 2017 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE17-001) to investigate allegations of stalling when accelerating from a stop on 2014-2015 DL1000 Suzuki motorcycles.
ODI contacted 4 of the 5 consumers who had filed complaints with the office and learned they all could engage the clutch as the stalling condition presented itself and keep the bike in an upright, stable position.
On May 17th 2017 Suzuki responded to ODI's Information Request letter and informed ODI of 21 consumer complaints and 28 warranty claims alleging stalling while accelerating from a stop on 2014 and 2015 subject vehicles.
Additionally, Suzuki made ODI aware of three crashes where the consumer alleged they dropped the bike as a result of the stall (no injuries were reported).
ODI contacted the complainants, including the consumers alleging a crash and noted the majority alleged a misfire or a loss in power at cruising speeds or going around a turn.
These allegations were not consistent with the alleged defect of this investigation.
Furthermore, ODI learned from 2 of the 3 complainants alleging a crash (dropped bike) that they had installed after market equipment on the motorcycle altering its performance and/or fueling strategy.
On July 27th, 2017 Suzuki and ODI participated in a joint ride-evaluation of the subject motorcycles.
Suzuki supplied ODI with a 2014 and 2015 D1000 motorcycle with original factory settings.
ODI solicited assistance from the Virginia State Police (VSP) Division 7 Motor Squad to evaluate and ride the subject motorcycles at the Dulles Airport training grounds.
VSP supplied ODI with 4 professional and experienced motorcycle riders.
At the Dulles location, ODI created a repeatable test program that would best elicit the alleged defect.
The test was a series of accelerating patterns through first gear into second at different distances.
After a total of 5 hours of riding the VSP riders were unable to induce or duplicate the stalling condition (alleged defect).
On August 9th 2017 Suzuki met with ODI to discuss the investigation, the merits of the complainants, and give a presentation concerning the chronology of design changes associated with the subject vehicles.
As a result of the July 27th ride evaluation, the August 9th joint meeting, and investigative interviews, ODI has concluded the alleged defect of this investigation does not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety at this time.
In addition, Suzuki has agreed to provide its customers with an updated engine control module (ECM) via a service campaign TLSVDL 066 (ODI 10119582) incorporating the latest engine software.
ODI is closing this PE 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 exist.
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 PE17-001. 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.
Suzuki
All Suzuki recallsWhat 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 PE17-001
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.