80 FR 18935 - Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP14-002
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 67 (April 8, 2015)
| Page Range | 18935-18936 | |
| FR Document | 2015-08082 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 18935-18936] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-08082] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, DP14-002 AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Department of Transportation. ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect investigation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This document denies a July 7, 2014 petition from Mr. Brian Rosa of Union, NJ, requesting that the agency open an investigation into an alleged defect resulting in engine stall without warning after refueling in a model year (MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan. The petitioner's vehicle is a Chrysler RS platform minivan. The RS platform includes MY 2003 through 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country and Chrysler Voyager minivans. NHTSA evaluated the petition by analyzing consumer complaints submitted to the Agency, analyzing field data and reviewing technical information provided by Chrysler in response to an information request letter from the Agency, and testing an RS minivan that was the subject of a post- refuel engine stall complaint to NHTSA. After completing this evaluation, NHTSA has concluded that further investigation of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles is unlikely to result in a determination that a safety-related defect exists. The agency accordingly denies the petition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Paul Simmons, Vehicle Control Division, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2315. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alleged Defect The petitioner alleges that his MY 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan vehicle experienced multiple incidents of engine stall without warning after refueling. The petitioner discovered that the defective part is a valve that is integral to the fuel tank, requiring tank replacement to repair the problem. The petitioner alleged that stalling without warning is an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety and requests the agency take action by opening a Preliminary Evaluation fully evaluate the defect. Engine Stall Defects The United States Code for Motor Vehicle Safety (Title 49, Chapter 301) defines motor vehicle safety as ``the performance of a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment in a way that protects the public against unreasonable risk of accidents occurring because of the design, construction, or performance of a motor vehicle, and against unreasonable risk of death or injury in an accident, and includes nonoperational safety of a motor vehicle.'' NHTSA considers several factors when assessing the safety risk posed by conditions that may result in engine stall while driving. These include the speeds at which stalling may occur, the ability of the driver to restart the vehicle, the warning available to the driver prior to stalling, the effects of engine stall on vehicle controllability, when and where the stalling will occur and the effects of the condition on other safety systems of the vehicle. In general, conditions that result in engine stall during low-speed operation at idle, such as when slowing to a stop, and which do not affect the operator's ability to immediately restart the engine are considered the least hazardous types of stalling problems and, absent other safety factors, are not considered to be unreasonable risks to safety. Background (PE13-016) On February 10, 2014, ODI closed an investigation of an alleged defect in approximately 153,817 MY 2006 Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge Magnum vehicles (LX cars) that may result in engine stall shortly after refueling (PE13-016). In response to ODI's information request for PE13-016, Chrysler identified a problem with the multifunction control valve (MFCV) fuel shutoff float integrated into 19-gallon fuel tanks in certain LX vehicles. According to Chrysler, the float may swell after exposure to fuels with high ethanol content, which may cause the valve to stick. A float valve that is stuck open during refueling, could result in fuel tank overfill and allow raw fuel to enter the purge line. This could result in problems with engine driveability (e.g., stumble or hesitation) or stall while driving in the brief period immediately after filling the fuel tank. [[Page 18936]] ODI's analysis of complaints related to this condition determined that most of the incidents of engine stall were occurring when the vehicles were stopped or travelling at low speeds and there were no reports of any difficulty restarting the engines after such incidents. No crashes or injuries were identified in the subject vehicles, which had been in service for 7 to 8 years. The investigation was closed with no safety recall due to the low safety risk associated with the alleged defect condition. RS Minivan analysis In response to ODI's information request letter for DP14-002, Chrysler indicated that the RS Minivans may experience a condition with MFCV float sticking similar to the one investigated in the LX Cars in PE13-016: ``The failure mechanism is a result of a swollen refueling float within the multifunction control valve. Studies have proven that elevated ethanol additives cause the float and housing to swell, which, in turn, causes the float to intermittently stick. Once stuck, a limited amount of fuel will pass beyond the refuel float and enter the vapor recovery system before the fill pressure threshold is reached and shuts the fuel nozzle off. ``Once fuel has entered into in the vapor recovery system, it can then be purged into the engine's intake system in place of anticipated vapor within the first minute of starting the engine. The result of fuel rather than vapor entering in the engine intake system will cause the engine to stumble or, when the vehicle is not in motion and/or the engine at idle, a stall can occur. The condition is often contained to a momentary engine stumble as the purge event is immediately turned off when a rich fuel condition is detected by the Powertrain Control Module. ``Chrysler believes there is no unreasonable risk to motor safety because an engine stumble or rough idle will occur at a low driving speed, and while a stall is most likely to occur at an idle or stop. There have been no reported accidents or property damage in over 1.8 million vehicles. Additionally, when a refuel valve does stick, there is sufficient back pressure in the fuel system to shut off the fuel pump and limit the amount of the fuel into the purge line.'' ODI's analysis of complaints, field reports, legal claims and warranty data related to the alleged defect in Chrysler RS Minivans identified a total of 720 post-refueling engine stall incidents in approximately 1.8 million vehicles, resulting in an overall rate of 0.39 per incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV). Similar to the LX Car analysis in PE13-016, the engine stalls were mostly occurring when the vehicle was stopped or coasting to a stop at low speed. There were no allegations of difficulty restarting the engines immediately after the stalls occurred. There were no allegations of crash or injury. Differences in tank design, exhaust routing and purge strategy may influence the incident rate at which the MFCV float sticking condition occurs and/or the potential for engine stall or other performance concerns. As a result, ODI's analysis examined incident rates over the full range of RS Minivan production to assess the effects of changes in tank design and purge control logic. This analysis identified an elevated incident rate for approximately 208,000 MY 2004 and 2005 RS Minivans built during a seventh month period from September 2003 through March 2004, which exhibited a failure rate similar to the LX Cars investigated in PE13-016. Table 1 summarizes the field data for DP14-002 and PE13-016. Table 1. Summary of NHTSA Complaints and Chrysler Complaints, Field Reports and Lawsuits -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle age Total Report rate Crashes/ NHTSA inv. No. Vehicles Build range Population (yrs) reports (IPTV) Injuries -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PE13-016................................... LX cars, 2006................ 4/05-7/06 153,817 7-8 299 1.94 0/0 DP14-002................................... RS vans, 2003-04............. 7/02-8/03 425,544 11-12 34 0.08 0/0 RS vans, 2004-05............. 9/03-3/04 208,419 10-11 445 2.14 0/0 RS vans, 2005-07............. 4/04-5/07 1,221,370 7-10 241 0.20 0/0 Total RS, 2003-07............ 7/02-5/07 1,855,333 7-12 720 0.39 0/0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject Vehicle Test Results As part of its evaluation of this defect petition, NHTSA's Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) conducted testing on a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country LMT (3.6L SFI, 20 gal. fuel tank) vehicle that was the subject of an ODI complaint (VOQ 10641603) that provided the following description of the problem: After fill up, vehicle stalls, the engine cuts off and the vehicle loses all power and power steering. This happened first on a cross country trip and caused some serious safety concerns when attempting to exit the gas station and merge onto the highway. This problem has been occurring regularly from the first instance in 2011. When fueling, the van is never over filled; we fill until the pump clicks off. This seems to be a fairly common problem in this generation of minivans as represented in online forums trying to diagnose the problem. VRTC conducted tests on the complaint vehicle to assess engine performance after refueling, including the driving conditions and ease of engine restart associated with any observed engine stalls. When refueling the vehicle up to the initial shut-off of the filling station pump nozzle, the VRTC testing was able to reproduce stalling incidents when the vehicle was stopped or coasting to a stop at low speed. The vehicle did not stall 4 out of 5 times when travelling at 5 mph, but minor hesitation was noted. No stalls and only minor hesitation were occurred when travelling at 10 mph or above in tanks filled to the initial nozzle shut-off. Stalling was more likely to occur if the tank was overfilled (i.e., adding fuel past the initial fill nozzle shutoff). Testing after overfilling resulted in stalls in 4 of 5 tests at speeds up to 10 mph. Regardless of fill condition, the vehicle could always be immediately restarted after each engine stall. Conclusion In the Agency's view, additional investigation is unlikely to result in a finding that a defect related to motor vehicle safety exists given the limited conditions under which the subject condition may result in engine stall, the low failure rate in vehicles with approximately 8 to 13 years in service and the absence of any reports of crashes or injuries. Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA limited resources to best accomplish the Agency's safety mission, the petition is denied. This action does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will take further action if warranted by future circumstances. Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8. Frank S. Borris II, Acting Associate Administrator for Enforcement. [FR Doc. 2015-08082 Filed 4-7-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-59-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices 18935
requirements of section 4129 while FMCSA–2015–0057 and click ‘‘Search.’’ integral to the fuel tank, requiring tank
continuing to ensure that operation of Next, click ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ and replacement to repair the problem. The
CMVs by drivers with ITDM will you will find all documents and petitioner alleged that stalling without
achieve the requisite level of safety comments related to the proposed warning is an unreasonable risk to
required of all exemptions granted rulemaking. motor vehicle safety and requests the
under 49 U.S.C. 31136(e). Issued on: April 2, 2015. agency take action by opening a
Section 4129(d) also directed FMCSA Preliminary Evaluation fully evaluate
Larry W. Minor,
to ensure that drivers of CMVs with the defect.
Associate Administrator for Policy.
ITDM are not held to a higher standard
than other drivers, with the exception of [FR Doc. 2015–08053 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am] Engine Stall Defects
limited operating, monitoring and BILLING CODE P
The United States Code for Motor
medical requirements that are deemed Vehicle Safety (Title 49, Chapter 301)
medically necessary. defines motor vehicle safety as ‘‘the
The FMCSA concluded that all of the DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
performance of a motor vehicle or motor
operating, monitoring and medical National Highway Traffic Safety vehicle equipment in a way that
requirements set out in the September 3, Administration protects the public against unreasonable
2003 notice, except as modified, were in risk of accidents occurring because of
compliance with section 4129(d). Denial of Motor Vehicle Defect Petition, the design, construction, or performance
Therefore, all of the requirements set DP14–002 of a motor vehicle, and against
out in the September 3, 2003 notice, unreasonable risk of death or injury in
except as modified by the notice in the AGENCY: National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration (NHTSA), an accident, and includes
Federal Register on November 8, 2005 nonoperational safety of a motor
(70 FR 67777), remain in effect. Department of Transportation.
vehicle.’’ NHTSA considers several
ACTION: Denial of petition for a defect
IV. Submitting Comments investigation. factors when assessing the safety risk
posed by conditions that may result in
You may submit your comments and
SUMMARY: This document denies a July engine stall while driving. These
material online or by fax, mail, or hand
7, 2014 petition from Mr. Brian Rosa of include the speeds at which stalling
delivery, but please use only one of
Union, NJ, requesting that the agency may occur, the ability of the driver to
these means. FMCSA recommends that
open an investigation into an alleged restart the vehicle, the warning available
you include your name and a mailing
defect resulting in engine stall without to the driver prior to stalling, the effects
address, an email address, or a phone
warning after refueling in a model year of engine stall on vehicle controllability,
number in the body of your document
(MY) 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan when and where the stalling will occur
so that FMCSA can contact you if there
minivan. The petitioner’s vehicle is a and the effects of the condition on other
are questions regarding your
Chrysler RS platform minivan. The RS safety systems of the vehicle. In general,
submission.
To submit your comment online, go to platform includes MY 2003 through conditions that result in engine stall
http://www.regulations.gov and in the 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan, Dodge during low-speed operation at idle, such
search box insert the docket number Caravan, Chrysler Town and Country as when slowing to a stop, and which
FMCSA–2015–0057 and click the search and Chrysler Voyager minivans. NHTSA do not affect the operator’s ability to
button. When the new screen appears, evaluated the petition by analyzing immediately restart the engine are
click on the blue ‘‘Comment Now!’’ consumer complaints submitted to the considered the least hazardous types of
button on the right hand side of the Agency, analyzing field data and stalling problems and, absent other
page. On the new page, enter reviewing technical information safety factors, are not considered to be
information required including the provided by Chrysler in response to an unreasonable risks to safety.
specific section of this document to information request letter from the Background (PE13–016)
which each comment applies, and Agency, and testing an RS minivan that
provide a reason for each suggestion or was the subject of a post-refuel engine On February 10, 2014, ODI closed an
recommendation. If you submit your stall complaint to NHTSA. After investigation of an alleged defect in
comments by mail or hand delivery, completing this evaluation, NHTSA has approximately 153,817 MY 2006
submit them in an unbound format, no concluded that further investigation of Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger and Dodge
larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for the alleged defect in the subject vehicles Magnum vehicles (LX cars) that may
copying and electronic filing. If you is unlikely to result in a determination result in engine stall shortly after
submit comments by mail and would that a safety-related defect exists. The refueling (PE13–016). In response to
like to know that they reached the agency accordingly denies the petition. ODI’s information request for PE13–016,
facility, please enclose a stamped, self- FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Chrysler identified a problem with the
addressed postcard or envelope. Paul Simmons, Vehicle Control multifunction control valve (MFCV) fuel
We will consider all comments and Division, Office of Defects Investigation, shutoff float integrated into 19-gallon
material received during the comment NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., fuel tanks in certain LX vehicles.
period and may change this proposed Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: According to Chrysler, the float may
rule based on your comments. FMCSA (202) 366–2315. swell after exposure to fuels with high
ethanol content, which may cause the
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
may issue a final rule at any time after SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
the close of the comment period. valve to stick. A float valve that is stuck
Alleged Defect open during refueling, could result in
V. Viewing Comments and Documents The petitioner alleges that his MY fuel tank overfill and allow raw fuel to
To view comments, as well as any 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan vehicle enter the purge line. This could result
documents mentioned in this preamble, experienced multiple incidents of in problems with engine driveability
To submit your comment online, go to engine stall without warning after (e.g., stumble or hesitation) or stall
http://www.regulations.gov and in the refueling. The petitioner discovered that while driving in the brief period
search box insert the docket number the defective part is a valve that is immediately after filling the fuel tank.
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![18936 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 67 / Wednesday, April 8, 2015 / Notices
ODI’s analysis of complaints related threshold is reached and shuts the fuel resulting in an overall rate of 0.39 per
to this condition determined that most nozzle off. incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV).
of the incidents of engine stall were ‘‘Once fuel has entered into in the vapor Similar to the LX Car analysis in PE13–
recovery system, it can then be purged into
occurring when the vehicles were the engine’s intake system in place of 016, the engine stalls were mostly
stopped or travelling at low speeds and anticipated vapor within the first minute of occurring when the vehicle was stopped
there were no reports of any difficulty starting the engine. The result of fuel rather or coasting to a stop at low speed. There
restarting the engines after such than vapor entering in the engine intake were no allegations of difficulty
incidents. No crashes or injuries were system will cause the engine to stumble or, restarting the engines immediately after
identified in the subject vehicles, which when the vehicle is not in motion and/or the
the stalls occurred. There were no
had been in service for 7 to 8 years. The engine at idle, a stall can occur. The
condition is often contained to a momentary allegations of crash or injury.
investigation was closed with no safety
engine stumble as the purge event is Differences in tank design, exhaust
recall due to the low safety risk immediately turned off when a rich fuel
associated with the alleged defect routing and purge strategy may
condition is detected by the Powertrain
condition. influence the incident rate at which the
Control Module.
‘‘Chrysler believes there is no unreasonable MFCV float sticking condition occurs
RS Minivan analysis risk to motor safety because an engine and/or the potential for engine stall or
In response to ODI’s information stumble or rough idle will occur at a low other performance concerns. As a result,
request letter for DP14–002, Chrysler driving speed, and while a stall is most likely ODI’s analysis examined incident rates
indicated that the RS Minivans may to occur at an idle or stop. There have been over the full range of RS Minivan
experience a condition with MFCV float no reported accidents or property damage in
over 1.8 million vehicles. Additionally, when
production to assess the effects of
sticking similar to the one investigated a refuel valve does stick, there is sufficient changes in tank design and purge
in the LX Cars in PE13–016: back pressure in the fuel system to shut off control logic. This analysis identified an
‘‘The failure mechanism is a result of a the fuel pump and limit the amount of the elevated incident rate for approximately
swollen refueling float within the fuel into the purge line.’’ 208,000 MY 2004 and 2005 RS
multifunction control valve. Studies have ODI’s analysis of complaints, field Minivans built during a seventh month
proven that elevated ethanol additives cause period from September 2003 through
reports, legal claims and warranty data
the float and housing to swell, which, in
turn, causes the float to intermittently stick. related to the alleged defect in Chrysler March 2004, which exhibited a failure
Once stuck, a limited amount of fuel will RS Minivans identified a total of 720 rate similar to the LX Cars investigated
pass beyond the refuel float and enter the post-refueling engine stall incidents in in PE13–016. Table 1 summarizes the
vapor recovery system before the fill pressure approximately 1.8 million vehicles, field data for DP14–002 and PE13–016.
TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF NHTSA COMPLAINTS AND CHRYSLER COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND LAWSUITS
Vehicle age Total re- Report rate Crashes/
NHTSA inv. No. Vehicles Build range Population (yrs) ports (IPTV) Injuries
PE13–016 ................ LX cars, 2006 ............................ 4/05–7/06 153,817 7–8 299 1.94 0/0
DP14–002 ................ RS vans, 2003–04 .................... 7/02–8/03 425,544 11–12 34 0.08 0/0
RS vans, 2004–05 .................... 9/03–3/04 208,419 10–11 445 2.14 0/0
RS vans, 2005–07 .................... 4/04–5/07 1,221,370 7–10 241 0.20 0/0
Total RS, 2003–07 .................... 7/02–5/07 1,855,333 7–12 720 0.39 0/0
Subject Vehicle Test Results engine restart associated with any finding that a defect related to motor
observed engine stalls. When refueling vehicle safety exists given the limited
As part of its evaluation of this defect
the vehicle up to the initial shut-off of conditions under which the subject
petition, NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and
the filling station pump nozzle, the condition may result in engine stall, the
Test Center (VRTC) conducted testing
VRTC testing was able to reproduce low failure rate in vehicles with
on a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country
stalling incidents when the vehicle was approximately 8 to 13 years in service
LMT (3.6L SFI, 20 gal. fuel tank) vehicle
stopped or coasting to a stop at low and the absence of any reports of
that was the subject of an ODI complaint
speed. The vehicle did not stall 4 out of crashes or injuries. Therefore, in view of
(VOQ 10641603) that provided the
5 times when travelling at 5 mph, but the need to allocate and prioritize
following description of the problem:
minor hesitation was noted. No stalls NHTSA limited resources to best
After fill up, vehicle stalls, the engine cuts and only minor hesitation were
off and the vehicle loses all power and power accomplish the Agency’s safety mission,
occurred when travelling at 10 mph or the petition is denied. This action does
steering. This happened first on a cross
above in tanks filled to the initial nozzle
country trip and caused some serious safety not constitute a finding by NHTSA that
concerns when attempting to exit the gas shut-off. Stalling was more likely to
a safety-related defect does not exist.
station and merge onto the highway. This occur if the tank was overfilled (i.e.,
adding fuel past the initial fill nozzle The Agency will take further action if
problem has been occurring regularly from
shutoff). Testing after overfilling warranted by future circumstances.
the first instance in 2011. When fueling, the
van is never over filled; we fill until the pump resulted in stalls in 4 of 5 tests at speeds Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30162(d); delegations
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
clicks off. This seems to be a fairly common up to 10 mph. Regardless of fill of authority at CFR 1.50 and 501.8.
problem in this generation of minivans as condition, the vehicle could always be
represented in online forums trying to Frank S. Borris II,
immediately restarted after each engine
diagnose the problem. Acting Associate Administrator for
stall.
VRTC conducted tests on the Enforcement.
Conclusion [FR Doc. 2015–08082 Filed 4–7–15; 8:45 am]
complaint vehicle to assess engine
performance after refueling, including In the Agency’s view, additional BILLING CODE 4910–59–P
the driving conditions and ease of investigation is unlikely to result in a
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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:07:00
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:07:00
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Denial of petition for a defect investigation. | |
| Contact | Mr. Paul Simmons, Vehicle Control Division, Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2315. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 18935 |
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