NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Recall Query RQ23-001: Certification, Recall Scope, Timeliness
- Open
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ23-001 on March 22, 2023; NHTSA's investigations file listed it as open on October 23, 2026. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Hitachi Cable America Nylon Brake Hose Assembly and PVC Brake Hose Assembly for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- RQ23-001 (also written RQ23001)
- Investigation type
- Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
- Status
- Open since March 22, 2023
- Opened
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Proterial Cable America, Inc.
- Component
- Unknown or Other
- Vehicles and equipment
- Hitachi Cable America Nylon Brake Hose Assembly and PVC Brake Hose Assembly
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ23-001.
On July 27, 2022, Hitachi Cable America Inc. (HCA), now known as Proterial Cable America, Inc. (PCA), filed a Part 573 Noncompliance Information Report (recall report) and amended its filing four times and as recently as November 16, 2022 (Recall No. 22E-061).
HCA's recall report recalled 5,972,187 brake hose assemblies sold as original equipment, service parts, or customization kits for use in motorcycles manufactured by Harley-Davidson, Inc. based on a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 106, Brake hoses.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. also subsequently filed a corresponding recall on August 9, 2022 (Recall No. 22V-608).
HCA's recall report described the noncompliances for the population of brake hose assemblies as consisting of various performance noncompliances: whip, water absorption whip, brake fluid compatibility, and high temperature impulse test.
In its July 27, 2022 recall report, HCA initially limited the recall population to an unspecified number of hoses manufactured between May 2, 2022 and July 16, 2022.
On October 18, 2022, HCA expanded the recall to include over 5.9 million brake hose assemblies manufactured since February 28, 2007.
The chronology HCA submitted with its recall report includes information on repeated test failures.
This RQ will investigate the timeliness of HCA's brake hose assembly recall and HCA's compliance with reporting requirements.
The RQ will also investigate the scope of the recall due to HCA supplying potentially similar parts to numerous manufacturers.
Noncompliant brake hose assemblies can lead to loss of brake function on a vehicle, and consequently, a vehicle crash.
HCA and Harley-Davidson have filed petitions asserting that the noncompliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety, which remain pending.
The RQ will also investigate HCA's basis for certifying the brake hose assemblies as compliant with FMVSS 106.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ23-001. 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.
Hitachi Cable America
Hitachi Cable America Nylon Brake Hose Assembly
- model year not given
Hitachi Cable America PVC Brake Hose Assembly
- model year not given
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 RQ23-001
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.