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NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06049

Preliminary Evaluation · WHEELCHAIR LIFT MICRO-SWITCH DISABLED · Opened 2006-11-09 · Closed 2007-02-27

Investigation

Action number
PE06049
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2006-11-09
Close date
2007-02-27
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Affected makes
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Affected components
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Affected model years
2006, 2007
Affected (make, year) variants
2

Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING THAT THEY HAD DISCOVERED NUMEROUS BUSES WITH ?ZIP-TIES? SECURING THE WHEELCHAIR DOOR MICRO-SWITCH IN THE CLOSED POSITION. THIS WOULD DEFEAT THE SAFETY INTERLOCK SYSTEM THAT PREVENTS THE BUS FROM BEING MOVED UNLESS THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT IS IN THE FULLY STOWED POSITION.ODI IS AWARE OF ONE ALLEGED CRASH RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. FREIGHTLINER STARTED USING THE PLASTIC ZIP-TIES ON THE 2006 MODEL CLASS A BUSES.THE ZIP-TIES WERE INSTALLED TO ENABLE THE BUS TO BE MOVED DOWN THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY LINE WHILE THE LIFT WAS STILL IN THE DOWN POSITION.USE OF THE ZIP-TIES IS UNIQUE TO THE SUBJECT BUSES.FREIGHTLINER WILL CONDUCT A RECALL TO INSPECT ALL AFFECTED BUSES FOR ZIP-TIES THAT WERE NOT REMOVED BEFORE DELIVERY OF THE BUSES.ANY ZIP-TIES LOCATED DURING THE INSPECTION WILL BE REMOVED.THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY FREIGHTLINER RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI investigation page
Machine
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