NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE05067
Preliminary Evaluation · HEIL TRAILER INTERNATIONAL · 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
SUSPENSION-FRAME CRACKS
ODI DETERMINED THAT TWO SUBJECT TRAILERS EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FRAME SEPARATIONS. HEIL HAD INITIATED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM, WHICH PAID FOR THE COMPLETE REPAIR OF ALL SUBJECT TRAILERS.GIVEN THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILERS WERE FUEL TANKERS, ODI WAS CONCERNED ABOUT HEIL'S DECISION TO CONDUCT A FIELD ACTION IN LIEU OF A SAFETY RECALL.AFTER REVIEWING HEIL'S PRIOR RECALL HISTORY AND DISCUSSING THE FAILURES WITH INVOLVED FLEETS, ODI CONTACTED HEIL TO DISCUSS THE MATTER.DURING OUR DISCUSSION, THE SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A 6,000 GALLON GASOLINE TANKER SEPARATING FROM THE TOW BAR MECHANISM WERE DISCUSSED. AS A RESULT, HEIL DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL.
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
- PE05067
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- HEIL TRAILER INTERNATIONAL
- Component
- STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
- Opened
- Dec 8, 2005
- Closed
- Mar 16, 2006
- Associated recall campaign
- 06V045000
Vehicles named in this investigation
8 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.