# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03046
> **LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING** · Opened 2003-10-14 · Closed 2003-12-01
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE03046
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 2003-10-14
- **Close date:** 2003-12-01
- **Manufacturer:** Champion Bus, Inc.
- **Affected makes:** CHAMPION
- **Affected components:** STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
- **Affected model years:** 2000, 2001, 2002
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 6
## Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A BUS FLEET WHICH WAS EXPERIENCING FLOOR SAGGING DUE TO THE LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING ON SIX OF THEIR BUSES.THE CRACKING OCCURED AS A RESULT OF UNDERSIZED GAUGE STEEL BEING USED ON THE THE FLOOR FRAME CROSSMEMBERS.CRACKS OF THIS NATURE COULD COMPROMISE THE STRUCTUAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUS BODY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. CHAMPION HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN AND REINFORCE THE CROSSMEMBERS AND RISERS OF THE SUB-FLOOR.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=PE03046)
---
*AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*