Ricon preliminary evaluation PE12015
Wheelchair restraint failure. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the equipment adaptive/mobility. Opened Jun 14, 2012, closed Jan 9, 2013 after 7 months without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedThis investigation was opened based upon allegations made by the New York City Transit Authority (NYCTA) regarding the operation of a subject lift installed on one of itsMCI motorcoaches. On March 6, 2012, an occupied powered wheelchair rolled off an elevated subject lift, injuring the occupant. While looking into this incident, ODI found that NYCTA personnel had failed to utilize the original equipment wheel chair restraint (an interlocked safety belt in this case).Normally, failing to use the belt would mean the lift could not be raised. This is because, to comply with FMVSS 403, S6.4.7.1 and S7.7.2.2, the lift manufacturer's (Ricon) wheel chair retention device incorporates an interlocked belt. With the required interlock, if the belt is not latched, the lift will not operate. However, NYCT failed to use the belt and intentionally disabled the interlock. ODI is unaware of any other incidents of wheelchair roll-away involving the subject lifts. Given these facts, a defect trend related to the subject lifts wheel chair retention system has not been identified and this PE is closed.
A Preliminary Evaluation is the first formal stage: NHTSA has decided the complaints and other information it screened are worth a closer look, and asks the manufacturer for its own data on the condition. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one closed without a recall. That means NHTSA found no defect trend it chose to act on at the time, or the manufacturer addressed the condition another way (a service campaign or a bulletin, which have their own pages). A closed file can be reopened if new reports arrive.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themNHTSA filed this action against Ricon Corporation without naming a model year — an equipment or manufacturer-level query.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs PE12015 a recall?
No. A preliminary evaluation is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one closed without one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is PE12015 still open?
No. It closed on Jan 9, 2013 without a recall.
Which vehicles does PE12015 cover?
NHTSA filed it against Ricon Corporation without naming a model year.