NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE99075
Preliminary Evaluation · Daimler Commercial Buses NA · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
12 VOLT/24 VOLT BATTERY EQUALIZER ON BUS
ODI has received information alleging failure of the equalizer on the vehicles listed above.An equalizer provides a 12volt source from a 24 volt battery; in effect, two 12 volt batterier get equally charged in series from a 24 volt source, and equally discharged in parallel into a 12 volt load.The equalizing term refers to the distribution of charge and discharge energy between the two separte 12 volt batteries. When the failure occurs the equalizer smokes excessively, filling the bus with smoke.As these buses may be carrying 50 or more people, excessive smoking (with possibility of a fire) is a concern.A fire may also result.A preliminary evaluation is being opened to gauge the scope of the issue, the technical causes of the equalizer failures and to address the resulting public safety concerns.
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
- PE99075
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Daimler Commercial Buses NA
- Component
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Opened
- Dec 8, 1999
- Closed
- May 31, 2000
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
2 model years across 2 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.