NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE06026
Preliminary Evaluation · Blue Bird Body Company · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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
OVER STRESSED BATTERY CABLES
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS NOTIFIED BY THE GSA AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING DIVISION THAT THEY HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS WHERE ABATTERY CABLE TERMINAL END FAILED. GSA REPORTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AS BEING TOO SHORT AND BEING STRESSED DURING NORMAL OPERATION RESULTING IN A COMPLETE SEPARATION.THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN OR POSSIBLY A THERMAL EVENT IF THECABLE SHORTS TO A GROUND SOURCE UPON FAILURE.BLUEBIRD HAS FILED A SAFETY DEFECT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL CABLE WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A LONGER BATTERY CABLE. THE AMMETER SHUNT MOUNTING WILL ALSO BE UPGRADED ON ALL BUSES DELIVERED THROUGH JULY 12, 2006.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSE.
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
- PE06026
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Blue Bird Body Company
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
- Opened
- Jul 10, 2006
- Closed
- Aug 31, 2006
- Associated recall campaign
- 06V261000
Vehicles named in this investigation
4 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.