NHTSA Investigation PE07012

INADVERTENT DOOR CLOSING

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON FOUR FLEETS CONTACTING ODI ALLEGING MULTIPLE EVENTS WHERE THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY CLOSED WHILE LOADING AND DISCHARGING CHILDREN.WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BUS WARNING LIGHTS (RED WARNING LAMPS AND STOP ARM LAMPS) ARE DE-ACTIVATED, SINCE THEY OPERATE OFF THE DOOR CONTROL.ODI ?S CONCERN WAS THAT CHILDREN MAY STILL BE CROSSING THE ROAD AND BE IN THE PATH OF TRAFFIC SHOULD THIS EVENT OCCUR.AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER SUBMITTED A SAFETY RECALL TO REPAIR APPROXIMATELY 11,359 MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2008 SAF-T-LINERS.THIS RECALL COVERS THE ENTIRE MODEL C2 POPULATION, INTRODUCED BY THOMAS IN 2005.ALL OWNERS (AND FLEETS) WILL BE NOTIFIED UPON THE FINAL VALIDATION OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION.FREIGHTLINER BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM INCORRECT ELECTRICAL SIGNALS BEING SENT TO THE DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE DOORS TO OPEN OR CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE DRIVER.FREIGHTLINER ESTIMATES THAT THE DEALERS WILL BE NOTIFIED APPROXIMATELY JULY 16, 2007. THIS RESOLVES THE ISSUE 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.