Tracker Marine preliminary evaluation PE14026
Swing-away boat trailer tongue failures. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this preliminary evaluation about the trailer hitches on 1 model year (2011). Opened Aug 6, 2014, closed Dec 23, 2014 after 5 months without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedThe Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation based on a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) alleging a failure of the swing-away hitch pivot bolt resulting in a loss of control. This condition could potentially increase the risk of a crash. During the investigation, ODI collected and reviewed subject and peer vehicle information related to the alleged defect. ODI selected model year 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 Tracker Marine trailers with swing-away hitches as peer vehicles. ODI sent an Information Request letter to Tracker Marine in order to collect complaint, warranty, parts sales, and design information. Tracker Marine provided all requested information and provided additional clarification upon request. A thorough review of available data revealed no crashes, injuries, or property damage claims. ODI did identify 11 warranty claims on the subject vehicles and 9 warranty claims on peer vehicles that indicated the hitch failed in some way. Tracker Marine provided additional details about each claim. ODI determined of nine claims which indicated the hitch pin or bolt was replaced, no replacements were due to a structural failure of the pin or bolt. Most of the pins were replaced due to damage to the pull ring, which has no effect on the integrity of the hitch. Another nine claims indicated that the pin or pivot tube was cracked. This would result in excessive play and warn the driver that they needed to have the hitch repaired. The remaining 2 cases had insufficient details. All known failures were identified and repaired before a complete separation or loss of control occurred. ODI also considered part sales for the subject component. While part sales did slightly out number warranty claims, it is impossible to correlate each sale to a particular make/model/model year trailer. The subject components are interchangeable and can be purchased in the aftermarket. The owner who submitted the VOQ to ODI also provided the failed pivot bolt to ODI for inspection. The Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) inspected the bolt and suggested that a drilling operation used to create a lubricant channel possibly contributed to the bolt failure. The VRTC analysis indicates there is potential for improvement within Tracker Marine's production of the swing-away hitch. However, the claim rate suggests the issue is not wide spread and can be detected prior to complete failure. This investigation is closed as further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following complaint identification numbers: 10615428
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 themAlso named: 2011 Tracker Marine Mako 18 LTS.
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 PE14026 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 PE14026 still open?
No. It closed on Dec 23, 2014 without a recall.
Which vehicles does PE14026 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 1 model year: 2011 Tracker Marine Mako 18 LTS. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.