Unprotected electrical system

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Road Rescue vehicles. Closed 11 May 2005.

Investigation
PE05015
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
17 March 2005
Closed
11 May 2005

What NHTSA investigated

This investigation was opened after a new york ambulance fleet notified odi that they had experienced an electrical fire, which filled the patient?s compartment with smoke.allegedly, the fire started in the distribution panel which supplies electrical power to operate the lights and equipment in the patient?s compartment.highly flammable materials, such as oxygen bottles are stored and used in the patient compartment of these vehicles.odi contacted the manufacturer and they reported a second thermal event concerning the same electrical circuit. During the course of the investigation, road rescue discovered that the electrical system was not properly protected against a short circuitand the fuses would need to be changed to a fuse that requires a manual reset, instead of the automatic resetting type fuse currently installed in the subject vehicles.road rescue has filed a saftey recall to replace the fuses on all ambulances utilizing the self-resetting style fuse.a copy of the recall is attached and this action resolves the fire concern raised by this investigation.hence, this investigation is closed

The recall that followed

  1. Road Rescue — Electrical System05V15300015 April 2005216 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
Road RescueAMBULANCE2002–2005

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.