NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE03046
Preliminary Evaluation · Champion Bus, Inc. · STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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
LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A BUS FLEET WHICH WAS EXPERIENCING FLOOR SAGGING DUE TO THE LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING ON SIX OF THEIR BUSES.THE CRACKING OCCURED AS A RESULT OF UNDERSIZED GAUGE STEEL BEING USED ON THE THE FLOOR FRAME CROSSMEMBERS.CRACKS OF THIS NATURE COULD COMPROMISE THE STRUCTUAL INTEGRITY OF THE BUS BODY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. CHAMPION HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN AND REINFORCE THE CROSSMEMBERS AND RISERS OF THE SUB-FLOOR.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED. ACCORDINGLY, 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
- PE03046
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Champion Bus, Inc.
- Component
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
- Opened
- Oct 14, 2003
- Closed
- Dec 1, 2003
- Associated recall campaign
- 03V458000
Vehicles named in this investigation
6 model years across 2 models
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.