NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE00013
Preliminary Evaluation · CENTURION VEHICLE INC · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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
INADVERTENT RECLINING POWER BENCH SEAT
Centurion converts production vans into small recreational vehicles, with power operated rear seats that recline into a bed for sleeping.The bed, when fully reclined, is about the size of a standard double bed mattress.The reclining process can be activated by one or more switches located in the vehicle.The switch or switches are always operable, even when the vehicle's ignition switch is in the off and locked position.When the button switch is activated, separate parts of the bench seats move to form the flat bed. This seat moving process takes about 8 to 10 seconds.It is alleged that a four year old child was trapped under a seat and died.
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
- PE00013
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- CENTURION VEHICLE INC
- Component
- SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
- Opened
- Feb 23, 2000
- Closed
- Jul 31, 2000
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
1 model year 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.