NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE02023
Preliminary Evaluation · THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
FAN DRIVE UPDATE
IN OCTOBER 2001, THOMAS BUILT BUSES SENT OUT A VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION (VON) TO BUS OWNERS OUTLINING PROCEDURES FOR THE PROPER ALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE'S FAN DRIVE COMPONENTS.DIRECTIONS IN THE COMMUNICATION REQUIRE THAT THE IDLER PULLEY, BELT TENSIONER, AND THE FAN BELT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.PRESUMABLY, THIS ACTION WAS BEING RECOMMENDED TO ELIMINATE FAN BELT SEPARATIONS WHILE THE BUSES ARE IN SERVICE.A FAN BELT SEPARATION WOULD RESULT IN THE NGINE OVERHEATING AND ULTIMATELY STALLING.AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, ODI CONTACTED TWO FLEETS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY HAD SUFFERED DISABLED BUSES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF A FAN BELT FAILURE.ON FEBRUARY 12, 2001, ODI OPENED THIE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES AND THE RATIONALE FOR CONDUCTING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN LIEU OF A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.ON MARCH 15, 2002, THOMAS BUILT FILED A DEFECT REPORT OUTLINING THEIR PLANS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY THE REMAINING OWNERS AND REMEDY THE AFFECTED SCHOOL BUSES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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
- PE02023
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
- Component
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Opened
- Feb 12, 2002
- Closed
- Mar 25, 2002
- Associated recall campaign
- 02V085000
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.