Engine fires

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Caterpillar vehicles. Closed 16 December 2005.

Investigation
PE05049
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
9 September 2005
Closed
16 December 2005

What NHTSA investigated

The opening of this investigation was based on two issues, the firstbeing a product improvement program (pip) released by caterpillar (PI30821) relating to an oil line leak on certain C15 engines that can occur at the right rear turbo-charger side of the engine.this pip includes a letter sent to owners of the C15 engines that states that the manufacturer urges the owner to have the service performed for your added safety and satisfaction.the second issue was a report forwarded to odi from a fire investigator in canada.this investigator reported that he had investigated a fire on a 2005 model year kenworth T800 with a caterpillar C15 engine.the investigation found the fire originated at the right rear of the engine compartment.photographs of the burned vehicle were forwarded with the report.as a result of odithe opening of this investigation was based on two issues, the firstbeing a product improvement program (pip) released by caterpillar (PI30821) relating to an oil line leak on certain C15 engines that can occur at the right rear turbo-charger side of the engine.this pip includes a letter sent to owners of the C15 engines that states that the manufacturer urges the owner to have the service performed for your added safety and satisfaction.the second issue was a report forwarded to odi from a fire investigator in canada.this investigator reported that he had investigated a fire on a 2005 model year kenworth T800 with a caterpillar C15 engine.the investigation found the fire originated at the right rear of the engine compartment.photographs of the burned vehicle were forwarded with the report.as a result of odi?s investigation, caterpillar has agreed to convert the pip toa safety recall.the recall remedy will involve the addition of a clip that will prevent vva line abrasion and the replacement of the vva line if inspections shows signs of wear.the vehicle manufacturers ( freightliner, western star, and paccar) will be notifified by caterpillar.a copy of caterpillar's recall is attached.a copy of the recall is attached.caterpillar's action resolves the issues raised by this investigation and, therefore, this investigation is closed.

Recalls that followed

  1. Freightliner — Engine and Engine Cooling06V0300008 February 20065,771 vehicles
  2. International — Engine and Engine Cooling06V00400010 January 20061,371 vehicles
  3. Kenworth — Engine and Engine Cooling05V57000022 December 200530,995 vehicles
  4. Caterpillar — Engine and Engine Cooling05E07800012 December 200555,794 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
CaterpillarC152004–2005

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.