NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE08023
Preliminary Evaluation · VAN HOOL, N.V. (*) · VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
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
WINDSHIELD WIPER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM
A JANUARY 2008 SERVICE BULLETIN SUGGESTS THAT CERTAIN MODEL BUSES SHOULD UPGRADE TO A HIGH TORQUE WIPER MOTOR.THE TSB ALSO ALLUDED TO WIPER MOTOR FAILURES. THEREFORE, ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE MODE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE SINCE THE WIPER SYSTEM IS CONSIDERED TO BE A CRITICAL ITEM OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND IS REQUIRED BY A FEDERAL STANDARD. VAN HOOL RE-EVALUATED THE ISSUE AND DECIDED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL. VAN HOOL DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE, BUT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH IMPROPERLY FINISHED LINKAGE COMPONENTS THAT WERE CAUSING THE WIPER MOTOR TO FAIL. ALL WIPER MOTOR LINKAGES ON THE AFFECTED BUSES WILL BE REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. THE RECALL ACTION RESOLVES 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
- PE08023
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- VAN HOOL, N.V. (*)
- Component
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
- Opened
- Mar 26, 2008
- Closed
- Jul 21, 2008
- Associated recall campaign
- 08V237000
Vehicles named in this investigation
12 model years across 3 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.