NHTSA Investigation PE88009

ELASTIC STRAP FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: THE BIC SPORTRACK IS SOLD INSEVERAL MODEL DESIGNATIONS WHICH DIFFER ONLY BY SIZE.THE BASIC ROOFTOPRACK IS CONVERTED FOR BICYCLE TRANSPORT BY INSTALLATION OF A CONVERSIONKIT.THE COMPLAINANT PROVIDED INFORMATION TO NHTSA/ODI DETAILING THERESULTS OF HIS PERSONAL SURVEY OF BICYCLE SHOPS AND OWNERS IN AN EFFORT TOASSESS THE SCOPE BIC BICYCLE/SPORT RACK FAILURES.REPORTEDLY, THE ELASTICSTRAPS WHICH SECURE THE BICYCLE RACK TO THE ROOF OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, FAILWHEN LOADED AND SUBJECTED TO THE STRAIN CAUSED BY VEHICLE MOTION.SUCHFAILURES PERMIT THE RACK AND ITS CONTENTS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLEWHILE IN MOTION.THE 32 COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER INVOLVE PROPERTY DAMAGE ONLY;USUALLY INVOLVING THE BICYCLES BEING TRANSPORTED.FIFTEEN OF THESE CASESINVOLVED USE OF AN INCORRECT MODEL FOR THE VEHICLE SIZE.ANALYSIS:INSPECTIONS BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THOSE SPORT RACKS THAT AREALLEGED TO HAVE FAILED DISCLOSED NO CONSISTENT CAUSE THAT MAY BE FAIRLYATTRIBUTED TO THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE RACKS.FIFTEEN CASES WEREFOUND TO RESULT FROM USE OF THE INCORRECT RACK MODEL, THREE INVOLVED BROKENOR MISSING PARTS, TWO INVOLVED FAILURE TO USE THE TIE DOWN STRAPS, FOURINVOLVED NO IDENTIFIABLE DEFICIENCY, AND EIGHT RACKS WERE NOT RETURNED TOBIC FOR INSPECTION.THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A LEGAL DISPUTE BETWEEN BIC AND THE PRINCIPALCOMPLAINANT TO NHTSA IN THIS MATTER.THE DISPUTE APPARENTLY INCLUDES ANALLEGATION OF NON-PAYMENT OF MONEY FOR PRODUCTS PURCHASED AND DELIVERED.THE PRINCIPAL COMPLAINANT WAS ALSO THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION UPONWHICH THIS PE WAS INITIATED.NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.======

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.