NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE03015
Preliminary Evaluation · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
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
ENGINE COOLING FAN BLADE SEPARATION
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE)03-015 ON APRIL 15, 2003, BASED ON THREE REPORTS ALLEGING THAT FAN BLADES SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC COOLING FAN.ALL THREE VEHICLES WERE WINNEBAGO RIALTA CLASS C MOTOR HOMES BUILT ON A VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN CHASSIS.DURING THE PE INVESTIGATION, VOLKSWAGEN PROVIDED 125 ADDITIONAL REPORTS OF FAN FAILURES.THE ADDITIONAL REPORTS INCLUDED 107 REPORTS ON RIALTA VEHICLES (ALL USING A SIEMENS MANUFACTURED COOLING FAN) AND 18 REPORTS ON EUROVAN VEHICLES (15 USING SIEMENS FANS AND 3 USING BOSCH FANS).AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS INVESTIGATION (EA03-013) HAS BEEN OPENED FOR FURTHER STUDY.
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
- PE03015
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
- Component
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
- Opened
- Apr 15, 2003
- Closed
- Aug 15, 2003
- 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.