NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE18-004: PNDB Electrical Power Distribution
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE18-004 on April 23, 2018 and closed it on November 22, 2020. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2011–2016 Freightliner Cascadia for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE18-004 (also written PE18004)
- 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 22, 2020
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Components
- Electrical System; Electrical System — Wiring — Fuses and Circuit Breakers
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2011–2016 Freightliner Cascadia
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 PE18-004.
On April 23, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-004) to investigate certain alleged defects affecting the Powernet Distribution Box (PNDB) and associated wiring on certain model year (MY) 2011-2016 Freightliner Cascadia (P3 platform) truck tractors that may result in disruption or loss of electrical power to the PNDB itself and other electrical circuits, thermal events, and/or vehicle fires.
On May 7, 2018, ODI sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA). On June 19, 2018, ODI received an IR response from DTNA that included vehicle production, consumer complaint, field report, warranty, manufacturer actions, changes and other data related to the alleged defects. On April 8, 2019, ODI received a supplemental IR response from DTNA that included their assessment of the alleged defects. Furthermore, ODI engaged in discussions with the manufacturer about the alleged defects on multiple occasions during the course of this investigation. ODI analysis of all available data indicates there is not an apparent defect trend. The most recent field report data reviewed was from 2017Q1 and the most recent complaint data was received by ODI in 2019Q1. The complaint rate is low. Most warranty claims occurred early in the vehicles' service life, and with the newest of the subject vehicles being over four years old, they are all now beyond that point. The warranty claim rates for loose input or output terminals (0.16%), loose fuses (0.25%), PNDB power (B+) supply cable corrosion or improper PNDB power (B+) supply cable routing and/ or securement (0.00%) are all low.
The most serious consequence in the warranty claim data alleged engine shutoff with a vehicle in motion. While some vehicles did experience a loss of electrical power resulting in loss of motive power with no immediate restart capability, the bulk of the warranty claims were for vehicles equipped with an optional cab power disconnect switch solenoid with an automatic reset feature that may exhibit a brief, intermittent loss of power. If the input and output voltages differ by an unacceptable amount, potentially due to foreign object debris or corrosion on the solenoid's contacts, the PNDB senses the difference and enters an auto-reset mode in an attempt to correct the condition. The internal contacts open for one second, stopping the flow of electricity, and then close, restoring the flow for two seconds. This cycle is repeated for up to five times; after a maximum of thirteen seconds, the PNDB defaults to the on position and electrical power is restored. This condition exhibits a transient loss of power but it does not cause any permanent engine disablement. As a precaution, the solenoid-equipped PNDB part was modified in August 2017 to eliminate the auto-reset feature. Since 2010, there has been only 1 report of vehicle fire and zero reports of crash, injury or death. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. 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 PE18-004. 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 PE18-004
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.