NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE04071
Preliminary Evaluation · Daimler Commercial Buses NA · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
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
DETERIORATING EXHAUST THERMAL BLANKET
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI VISITED A TRANSIT FLEET FACILITY AND NOTICED A BUS THAT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.FURTHER EXAMINATION OF OTHER BUSES INDICATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THERMAL BLANKETS WERE DETERIORATING AND MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THERMAL EVENT.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, ORION HAS AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE THERMAL BLANKETS WITH BLANKETS HAVING A HIGHER THERMAL RATING AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SLIP-OVERLAP FIT BETWEEN THE THREE BLANKETS. THIS ALLOWS MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BY THE THERMAL BLANKETS.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ORION'S PROPOSED ACTIONRESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.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
- PE04071
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Daimler Commercial Buses NA
- Component
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
- Opened
- Oct 13, 2004
- Closed
- Jan 25, 2005
- Associated recall campaign
- 04V543000
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.