NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE00029
Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · 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
PROPANE VEHICLE CONVERSION
THE SECOND-STAGE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, DURING THE CONVERSION PROCESS, INSTALLS THE PROPANE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT-OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CARGO BED IN AN EXPOSED POSITION.THIS LOCATION APPEARS TO BE CONTRARY TO THE NFPA #152 GUIDELINES AND FORD'S BODY BUILDER LAYOUT BOOK - ALTERNATIVE FUELS GUIDELINES.IN A SIDE-SWIPE TYPE OF COLLISION, BETWEEN ONE OF THE SUBJECT CONVERSIONS AND A 1988 INTERNATION TRUCK, THE PROPANE TANK WAS IMPACTED AND THE PROPANE WAS RELEASED.THE RELEASED PROPANE REPORTEDLY IGNITED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS OF BOTHE VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE SERIOUSLY BURNED.ONE DRIVER DIED ALMOST INSTANTLY IN THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK AND THE SECOND 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
- PE00029
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
- Opened
- Jul 21, 2000
- Closed
- Jan 5, 2001
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
3 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.