NHTSA opens audit query into 2015 Chevrolet Express: Sale of noncompliant school bus
On December 1, 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Audit Query (AQ18006) into 2015 Chevrolet Express, concerning the seats. An Audit Query reviews whether a manufacturer has met its federal safety reporting or recall obligations. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- AQ18006 (Audit Query)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Seats
- Listed
- 1 make/model/year entry in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Chevrolet |
|---|---|
| Model | Express |
| Model years | 2015 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
NHTSA's Office of Chief Counsel received a report from a private attorney representing the estate of a child passenger in a 15 passenger van who died in a crash allegedly occurring when the van was being employed by a school district for student transportation. The attorney provided the agency with a bill of sale and accompanying documentation indicating that the van was sold in August of 2015 by Wiesner Chevrolet of Huntsville, Texas to the Trinity County Texas Independent School District. Sale of a vehicle that does not comply with the Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standards (FMVSS) applicable to school buses when that vehicle is likely to be used significantly to transport preprimary, primary, and secondary school students to or from school or an event related to school constitutes a violation of Section 30112 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act. The purpose of this AQ is to investigate the potential violation of the Act's prohibition of sales of a school bus that is not compliant to FMVSS.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for AQ18006, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
What owners have reported
Owners filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the model years in this investigation. These are all complaints on file for those vehicles, about any problem, not only this one; complaints are unverified owner reports.
| Vehicle | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Express | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens audit query AQ18006
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search AQ18006 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.