NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE21-006: Halogen Headlights May Cause Fires
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE21-006 on February 25, 2021 and closed it on July 16, 2021. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018–2020 Freightliner Cascadia for it and links recall 21V-357 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE21-006 (also written PE21006)
- 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 July 16, 2021
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Component
- Exterior Lighting — Headlights
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 21V-357: Dislodged Headlight May Cause Fire, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2018–2020 Freightliner Cascadia
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE21-006.
In its process for evaluating Early Warning Reporting data, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) found twenty-four (24) field reports involving headlight fires on Freightliner Cascadia trucks, model years 2017 and newer produced by the vehicle manufacturer, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). ODI contacted DTNA and learned that it was aware of halogen bulb-related thermal events. DTNA stated a belief that the issue was due to incorrect bulb replacement during maintenance. However, some vehicles experienced fires within the original equipment halogen bulb's expected life range.
In July 2019, DTNA released a service bulletin and a training video covering proper headlight bulb replacement. There have been 17 fires, with 3 total vehicle losses, since DTNA released this extra training information.
On February 25, 2021, ODI opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-006) and sent an Information Request (IR) letter to DTNA.After the PE opening, DTNA reevaluated the data and found additional thermal events at low mileages and decided to file a recall. On May 14, 2021, DTNA submitted recall 21V-357 for 72,508 vehicles covering 2017-2022 models (exceeding the population and model years of this investigation). The planned owner and dealer notification date is July 12, 2021.
For the remedy, DTNA will open up the 2-inch access into a 4-inch access hole into the inner fender to provide better access for the maintenance replacement of the bulb, and add a label that provides a visible warning to aid in the correct installation during the change. Additionally, a new foam grommet will replace the flammable rubber boots for both the high and low beam bulbs, improving access to the interface point where the bulbs install into the socket of the reflector. ODI believes that the scope of DTNA recall 21V-357 is sufficient, and accordingly, PE21-006 is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist on other models or MY 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 PE21-006. 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.
Freightliner
All Freightliner 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 PE21-006
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.