Thomas Built Buses preliminary evaluation PE13006
Blocked Fuel Delivery Resulting in Stall. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the fuel system, diesel on 1 model year (2013). Opened Mar 18, 2013, closed Aug 26, 2013 after 5 months. It led to safety recall 13V364000, 13V365000. became a recall
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedODI was made aware of multiple allegations of engine stall resulting from a loose barcode sticker in the fuel tank of certain model year (MY) 2012 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner transit style buses manufactured by Thomas Built Buses, Inc. (TBB).The loose barcode sticker from a diesel powered cab heater (installed in some cold weather state buses) may become lodged in the fuel delivery pickup tube and restrict fuel flow. Early analysis suggested that at least one failure resulted in a school bus being stranded on an interstate highway. Additionally, ODI identified 6 Early Warning Reporting (EWR) reports that appear related to the alleged defect, and TBB informed ODI that it was aware of nine (9) other related field reports for a total of fifteen (15) alleged incidents. Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), parent company of TBB, submitted a recall notice dated August 13, 2013 (13V-365 for school buses and 13V-364 for non-school buses) that addresses ODI's concerns. Fuel tanks will be inspected for the presence of a label. If a label is found, it will be removed from the tank. As a result of the DTNA remedial action 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: 2013 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2.
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 PE13006 a recall?
No — it is the investigation that led to one. Recall 13V364000, 13V365000 is the campaign; its page carries the remedy.
Is PE13006 still open?
No. It closed on Aug 26, 2013 and led to recall 13V364000, 13V365000.
Which vehicles does PE13006 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 1 model year: 2013 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.