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NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE14029

Preliminary Evaluation · Headlight failures/fires · Opened 2014-09-11 · Closed 2015-02-27

Investigation

Action number
PE14029
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2014-09-11
Close date
2015-02-27
Manufacturer
Navistar, Inc.
Affected makes
INTERNATIONAL
Affected components
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Affected model years
2013
Affected (make, year) variants
1

Summary

This investigation was opened based on a consumer complaint alleging a headlight fire on a MY 2013 International Prostar.A fire cause and origin report accompanied the complaint and placed the origin at the headlight assembly but did not confirm the first material ignited.The complainant reported two injuries due to smoke inhalation by the driver and passenger as well as a broken ankle suffered by the passenger when they jumped out of the vehicle.During the investigation, ODI collected and reviewed subject and peer vehicle information related to the alleged defect.ODI selected model year 2012 and 2014 Navistar Prostar vehicles as peer vehicles.ODI sent an Information Request letter to Navistar in order to collect production, complaint, warranty, part sales, and design information.Navistar provided all requested information.A thorough review of available data revealed the only known complaint and injury event was the single complaint submitted to NHTSA.Navistar reported having received 250 warranty claims relative to the alleged defect on the subject vehicle.A detailed review of these claims indicated that single headlights failed sporadically over the life of the truck.No incidents were found to include simultaneous failure of both the left and right headlights.ODI also analyzed data for 39,687 peer MY 2012 and 2014 Prostar vehicles.Navistar used the same search criteria on the peer vehicles as the subject vehicles and identified 439 warranty claims. Again, no fires, injuries or simultaneous failures were identified.No design changes were reported for the headlights on subject vehicles.However, Navistar reported three design changes for the 2014 peer vehicles.One of the changes was to offer LED headlights.Another involved a changed in the headlight assembly supplier as a cost savings initiative, and the third was in response to warranty claims.All designs are interchangeable with the subject vehicles.Change 91885Z was put into vehicle production on November 4, 2013

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI investigation page
Machine
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