NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA88012
Engineering Analysis · Caterpillar, Inc. · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
SHUTOFF SOLENOID
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:THE EFFECT OF THIS FAILURE ONTHE USER IS THAT OF A SIGNIFICANT NUISANCE.IF AN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN,NEITHER THE CONTROLLABILITY OF THE MOVING VEHICLE NOR THE CAPABILITY TOBRING IT TO A STOP IS MATERIALLY AFFECTED AND CATERPILLAR DOES NOT FEELTHAT AN ENGINE SHUTDOWN IS SAFETY RELATED.ANALYSIS:WARRANTY DATA OBTAINED DURING THE PE INDICATES CATERPILLARHAS HAD SIGNIFICANT FAILURES OF FUEL SHUTDOWN SOLENOIDS ON THE SUBJECTENGINES SINCE 1982.ADDITIONALLY, SINCE 1984 5 MECHANICAL AND 5 ELECTRICALCHANGES HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY.AN ENGINE SHUTDOWNWITHOUT WARNING COULD CAUSE THE TRUCK TO BE DIFFICULT TO STEER, AND INCERTAIN SCENARIOS ALLOW THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM TO EXHAUST ITSELF.PROPOSED ACTION:SEND AN IR.===
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- EA88012
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Caterpillar, Inc.
- Component
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
- Opened
- Jan 4, 1988
- Closed
- Apr 1, 1988
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
6 model years across 1 model
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.