NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04008

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON A VEHICLE FIRE INVESTIGATIONON A MODEL YEAR 2001 FORD E-450, GOSHEN 14 PASSENGER BUS. THE FIRE OCCURRED IN JUNE, 2003.NHTSA ENGINEERS INSPECTED THE GOSHEN BUS ON JULY 15, 2003, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE DAMAGE INCURRED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.A REVIEW OF THE WORK ORDER HISTORY FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IDENTIFIED THE LAST SERVICE WAS PERFORMED ON MAY 20, 2003 AT 73,806 MILES AND CONSISTED OFNORMAL, ROUTINE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AND ROUINE MAINTENANCE.GOSHEN SETTLED A LAWSUIT ON THIS MATTER PRIOR TO A DETERMINATION OF THE CAUSE AND ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. ODI REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM GOSHEN CONCERNING ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES, MELTING OF ENGINE COMPONENTS OR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND SMOKE DAMAGE OR EVIDENCE OF SMOKE DAMAGE OF COMPONENTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FOR BUSES MANUFACTURED IN CALENDAR YEARS 2000-2002.GOSHEN SUBMITTED INFORMATION WHICH INDICATED ONE OTHER FIRE IN TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 2001.ODI CONTACTED THE FLEET, AND THEY REPORTED THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE DASHBOARD AREA OF THE BUS.THUS, FOR THE POPULATION OF SUBJECT BUSES, ODI IS AWARE OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE AND A DASHBOARD RELATED FIRE.THIS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF A SAFETY DEFECT TREND. THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.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 ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.