Volvo preliminary evaluation PE13002
Stop Lamp Switch Signal. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the automatic transmission on 30 model years (2007–2014). Opened Feb 7, 2013, closed Jul 3, 2013 after 5 months. It led to safety recall 13V268000. became a recall
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedThe Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received Early Warning Reporting (EWR) data from the manufacturer that indicated some number of subject vehicles equipped with the subject automated manual transmission had allegedly experienced a condition where the clutch failed to automatically disengage the transmission from the engine as intended. This may result in extended stopping distances and/or unintended forward motion of a vehicle previously at rest. To date, ODI is aware of 134 subject vehicles with one or more complaints or field reports related to this condition. Also, ODI is aware of 164 subject vehicles with one or more warranty claims related to this condition. By letter dated June 25, 2013, Volvo Trucks North America (Volvo) notified ODI that it has initiated a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 13V268 and Volvo Recall No. RVXX1303) to address a safety defect in approximately 23,003 model year (MY) 2007 through 2014 Volvo VAH, VHD, VNL, VNM and VT model trucks. The affected vehicles were manufactured from December 20, 2006 through May 22, 2013 and were originally equipped with the subject automated manual transmissions. According to Volvo, reports of the subject transmission clutch mechanism failing to automatically disengage as intended are associated with the removal of a brake pedal micro switch that provided a redundant signal to the transmission control module indicating the brakes had been applied. Previously, Volvo had removed this brake pedal micro switch from new vehicle production and from certain vehicles already in-service via two field service campaigns (SP 432-024 and SP 432-026) because it decided the switch was unnecessary and/or a maintenance issue. In the absence of this redundant brake pedal micro switch, the clutch mechanism may fail to disengage the transmission from the engine at low vehicle speed should the stop lamp switch fail to send and/or the transmission control module fail to receive the primary signal. At the time of this closing, Volvo is evaluating available remedies and will provide NHTSA with details when the recall remedy procedure has been finalized. Volvo will notify affected owners by mail by August 25, 2013. Please see NHTSA Recall No. 13V268 for details. Accordingly, this investigation 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 became a recall. The campaign page carries the manufacturer’s filed defect, risk and remedy, the build window and every model year covered; whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2011 Volvo VAH; 2012 Volvo VAH; 2007 Volvo VHD; 2008 Volvo VHD; 2009 Volvo VHD; 2010 Volvo VHD; 2011 Volvo VHD; 2012 Volvo VHD; 2013 Volvo VHD; 2014 Volvo VHD; 2007 Volvo VNL; 2008 Volvo VNL; 2009 Volvo VNL; 2010 Volvo VNL; 2011 Volvo VNL; 2012 Volvo VNL; 2013 Volvo VNL; 2014 Volvo VNL; 2007 Volvo VNM; 2008 Volvo VNM; 2009 Volvo VNM; 2010 Volvo VNM; 2011 Volvo VNM; 2012 Volvo VNM; 2013 Volvo VNM; 2014 Volvo VNM; 2007 Volvo VT; 2008 Volvo VT; 2009 Volvo VT; 2010 Volvo VT.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs PE13002 a recall?
No — it is the investigation that led to one. Recall 13V268000 is the campaign; its page carries the remedy.
Is PE13002 still open?
No. It closed on Jul 3, 2013 and led to recall 13V268000.
Which vehicles does PE13002 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 30 model years: 2011 Volvo VAH, 2012 Volvo VAH, 2007 Volvo VHD, 2008 Volvo VHD, 2009 Volvo VHD, 2010 Volvo VHD and more. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.