NHTSA Investigation PE08057

TRASH TRUCK FIRES

ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING ALLEGATIONS OF TWO TRASH TRUCK FIRES WITH THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING SUSPECTED AS THE CAUSE. THE TWO ALLEGED FIRES OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED AND UNATTENDED.LODAL CONTENDS THAT THEY ARE ONLY AWARE OF TWO FIRE EVENTS RELATED IN ANY MANNER TO BATTERY CABLES. THESE ARE THE TWO FIRES REPORTED TO ODI WHICH PROMPTED THIS INVESTIGATION.LODAL DOES NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS A WIDE SPREAD FIRE ISSUE CONCERNING THE SUBJECT POPULATION. LODAL AGREES THAT THE BATTERY CABLE MOUNTING AND ROUTING IS IMPORTANTAND STATES THAT BOTH MUST BE CHECKED AFTER ANY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS PERFORMED IN OR ABOUT THE BATTERY CABLE AREA.LODAL STATES (AND ODI AGREES) THAT TRASH TRUCKSOPERATE IN AN EXTREMELY HARSH ENVIRONMENT AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR 8 YEARS.THIS SEVERE OPERATING ENVIRONMENT DEMANDS THAT GOOD MAINTENANCE PRACTICES ARE FOLLOWED BY FLEETS TO ENSURE THE BATTERY CABLES ARE NOT COMPROMISED, RESULTING IN AN ELECTRICALSHORT. LODAL HAS AGREED TO PUBLISH A SERVICE BULLETIN AND SEND IT TO ALL VEHICLE OWNERS OF SIMILAR DESIGN OR BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND ALERT THEM TO THE IMPORTANCE OF INSPECTING THE BATTERY CABLE, ITS MOUNTING, AND INTERFACE WITH THE BATTERY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. BASED ONLODAL'SDATA AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE FIRES, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.

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.