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NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06035

Preliminary Evaluation · MISSING ELECT. PANEL MOUNTING HARDWARE · Opened 2006-09-05 · Closed 2006-12-19

Investigation

Action number
PE06035
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2006-09-05
Close date
2006-12-19
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Affected makes
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Affected components
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Affected model years
2006
Affected (make, year) variants
1

Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON A FLEET VISIT WHERE THE ODI INVESTIGATOR OBSERVED AN ELECTRICAL PANEL THAT WAS DISLOCATED FROM ITS MOUNTING BRACKETS.FURTHER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT TWO MOUNTING SCREWS WERE MISSING. THE PANEL CONSISTS OF A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL BREAKERS AND TWO HEAVY GAUGE ELECTRICAL CABLES THAT SUPPLY POWER TO THE PANEL AND OTHER ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.ODI'S CONCERN WAS THAT IF A FULL SEPARATION OCCURRED, THE PANEL COULD SHORT OUT AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE IF IT WERE TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE SURROUNDING METAL ENCLOSURE. AN INSPECTION OF FIVE ADDITIONAL BUSES REVEALED TWO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIRTEEN WEREDISCLOSED BY THE DEALER AS BEING REPAIRED FOR LOOSE OR MISSING SCREWS. FREIGHTLINER CONTENDS THAT THEY HAVERECEIVED ONLY ONE OTHER COMPLAINT FROM A FLEET OTHER THAN THE ONE IDENTIFIED BY ODI. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF FIRES, SHORT CIRCUITS ORELECTRICAL FAILURES.FREIGHTLINER WILL ISSUE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO ALL DEALERS AND FLEETS ADDRESSING PROPER SECUREMENT OF THE SUBJECT PANEL.BASED ON FREIGHTLINER?S DATA, AN EWR REVIEW AND FURTHER FIELD REVIEWS INTO THIS ISSUE, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE CURRENTLY UNWARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFTEY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI investigation page
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