NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05013

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER REVIEWING SERVICE BULLETIN WB04-18, ISSUED BY PREVOST IN DECEMBER 2004 ENTITLED, INSPECTION OF RADIUS ROD LOCKING TAB PLATES.THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS DEALERS TO INSPECT THE SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT COACHES TO ENSURE THAT ALL THE LOCKING TABS WERE FOLDED (LOCKED) ON FRONT AND REAR RADIUS RODS. RADIUS ROD FASTENER ( LARGE BOLTS) FAILURES COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED/ UNCONTROLLABLESUSPENSION AND BODY MOVEMENT AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.PREVOST REPORTED 13 VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE.THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A CHANGE IN PERSONNEL ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE AND WAS DISCOVERED DURING A QUALITY CONTROL CHECK.ALL OF THE VEHICLES WERE STILL IN DIRECT CONTROL OF THE FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURER AND PREVOST STATES NONE WERE SOLD OR INTRODUCED IN COMMERCE AND ALL WOULD BE CORRECTED PRIOR TO DOING SO.A SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE UNWARRANTED.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED