# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04071
> **DETERIORATING  EXHAUST THERMAL BLANKET** · Opened 2004-10-13 · Closed 2005-01-25
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE04071
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 2004-10-13
- **Close date:** 2005-01-25
- **Manufacturer:** Daimler Commercial Buses NA
- **Affected makes:** ORION
- **Affected components:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
- **Affected model years:** 2002, 2003, 2004
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 3
## Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI VISITED A TRANSIT FLEET FACILITY AND NOTICED A BUS THAT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.FURTHER EXAMINATION OF OTHER BUSES INDICATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THERMAL BLANKETS WERE DETERIORATING AND MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THERMAL EVENT.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, ORION HAS AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE THERMAL BLANKETS WITH BLANKETS HAVING A HIGHER THERMAL RATING AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SLIP-OVERLAP FIT BETWEEN THE THREE BLANKETS. THIS ALLOWS MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BY THE THERMAL BLANKETS.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ORION'S PROPOSED ACTIONRESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.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=PE04071)
---
*AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*