23E044 – Incomplete Electrical Connection in Battery – East Penn Deka Batteries

SEOCONTENT-START

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Submission Date : JUN 08, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23E-044 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Address : Deka Road Lyon Station PA 19536-0147 Company phone : 610) 682-6361 Population : Number of potentially involved : 2,139 Estimated percentage with defect : 70 % Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 : Deka, see comments below Model : 648MF Part No. : F3F-48BB, 648MF Size : NR Function : NR Descriptive Information : Each battery produced in an assembly department at East Penn receives an assembly date code which is traceable to the building, line, day, and shift of manufacture. The defect at issue was traced back to a specific shift with one operator working on two different dates. All batteries produced on the two shifts in question are included in this recall. The recall population may have less than required cross sectional area of connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. East Penn anticipates the total number of batteries in the recall population will be reduced as sorting and quarantining continues. At the present time, East Penn does not believe that the entire recall population has been received by end users. Production Dates : FEB 28, 2023 – MAR 02, 2023 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The defect at issue involves an incomplete electrical connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This condition can be present in both or one of the terminals in the battery. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. The defect can only be identified by a destructive product analysis. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : Potential breach of the battery, failure to start vehicle. Breach can only happen if the battery is in a charged condition, the electrical connection is broken, and an electrical spark occurs. The internal post connection to the external post needs to separate and create a spark to ignite the internal gases and create the breach. At minimum there is a partial connection of the internal to external posts. If the battery is not vibrated or an extreme load applied to the battery the connection is sufficient to prevent an ignition of the internal gases. Description of the Cause : Improper welding technique Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : Slow vehicle starting behavior. Abnormal behavior of the vehicle electrical system. Involved Components : Component Name : NR Component Description : NR Component Part Number : NR Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Co. Address : 102 Deka Rd. Lyon Station Pennsylvania 19536 Country : United States Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Chronology : 5/13/23 – Breached battery detected in the forming manufacturing process. 5/15/23 – Teardown was performed on breached batteries and capped terminal burn was identified as the root cause of the breach. 5/15/23 – Quarantine process for suspect product began. 5/16/23 through 5/26/23 – Destructive product analysis on quarantined product to isolate affected lots. 5/19/23 – Confirmation of field exposure and notification to distribution network of quarantine expectations and stop shipment decision. 5/23/23 – Notification of second affected datecode to distribution network for sorting efforts. No known warranty claims, field or service reports, or any vehicle crashes/injuries. Only two internal failures at the manufacturing facility in Lyons Station, PA Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Product quarantine conducted/to be conducted at Topton, PA distribution center, regional distribution centers, and wholesale customer locations. Communication to be sent to wholesale customers requesting that they conduct visual product inspection and quarantine affected batteries. Visual product inspection and quarantine to be conducted at wholesale customer locations by East Penn personnel. East Penn to support warranty credit claims for defective products that have been installed prior to manufacturer’s notification. East Penn will issue full credit at prevailing price and pay for related transportation costs associated with proper product disposal for all defective products that have been identified and quarantined prior to installation. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The assembly datecode is the distinguishing characteristic. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The operator was removed from the production line. Event to be submitted to East Penn’s Corrective Action process. A team will be assigned to investigate the root cause(s) at which point permanent actions can be implemented (estimated time period 6/2023). Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : East Penn Manufacturing will begin to issue the owner, purchaser, dealer, and distributor notifications notifications within five (5) business days of receiving NHTSA’s approval of the letters. Planned Dealer Notification Date : NR – NR Planned Owner Notification Date : NR – NR Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 4 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Purchaser Information : The following manufacturers purchased this defective/noncompliant equipment for possible use or installation in new motor vehicles or new items of motor vehicle equipment: Name : NR Address : NR NR Country : NR Company Phone : NR * NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Submission Date : JUN 14, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23E-044 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Address : Deka Road Lyon Station PA 19536-0147 Company phone : 610) 682-6361 Population : Number of potentially involved : 2,139 Estimated percentage with defect : 70 % Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 : Deka, see comments below Model : 648MF Part No. : 648MF Size : NR Function : NR Descriptive Information : Each battery produced in an assembly department at East Penn receives an assembly date code which is traceable to the building, line, day, and shift of manufacture. The defect at issue was traced back to a specific shift with one operator working on two different dates. All batteries produced on the two shifts in question are included in this recall. The recall population may have less than required cross sectional area of connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. East Penn anticipates the total number of batteries in the recall population will be reduced as sorting and quarantining continues. At the present time, East Penn does not believe that the entire recall population has been received by end users. Production Dates : FEB 28, 2023 – MAR 02, 2023 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The defect at issue involves an incomplete electrical connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This condition can be present in both or one of the terminals in the battery. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. The defect can only be identified by a destructive product analysis. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : Injury Description of the Cause : Improper welding technique Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : Slow vehicle starting behavior. Abnormal behavior of the vehicle electrical system. Involved Components : Component Name : Battery Component Description : Starter Battery Component Part Number : 648MF Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Co. Address : 102 Deka Rd. Lyon Station Pennsylvania 19536 Country : United States Chronology : 5/13/23 – Breached battery detected in the forming manufacturing process. 5/15/23 – Teardown was performed on breached batteries and capped terminal burn was identified as the root cause of the breach. 5/15/23 – Quarantine process for suspect product began. 5/16/23 through 5/26/23 – Destructive product analysis on quarantined product to isolate affected lots. 5/19/23 – Confirmation of field exposure and notification to distribution network of quarantine expectations and stop shipment decision. 5/23/23 – Notification of second affected datecode to distribution network for sorting efforts. No known warranty claims, field or service reports, or any vehicle crashes/injuries. Only two internal failures at the manufacturing facility Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 in Lyons Station, PA Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Product quarantine conducted/to be conducted at Topton, PA distribution center, regional distribution centers, and wholesale customer locations. Communication to be sent to wholesale customers requesting that they conduct visual product inspection and quarantine affected batteries. Visual product inspection and quarantine to be conducted at wholesale customer locations by East Penn personnel. East Penn to support warranty credit claims for defective products that have been installed prior to manufacturer’s notification. East Penn will issue full credit at prevailing price and pay for related transportation costs associated with proper product disposal for all defective products that have been identified and quarantined prior to installation. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The assembly datecode is the distinguishing characteristic. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The operator was removed from the production line. Event to be submitted to East Penn’s Corrective Action process. A team will be assigned to investigate the root cause(s) at which point permanent actions can be implemented (estimated time period 6/2023). Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : East Penn Manufacturing will begin to issue the owner, purchaser, dealer, and distributor notifications notifications within five (5) business days of receiving NHTSA’s approval of the letters. Planned Dealer Notification Date : JUN 09, 2023 – JUL 10, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : AUG 04, 2023 – SEP 08, 2023 Purchaser Information : The following manufacturers purchased this defective/noncompliant equipment for possible use or installation in new motor vehicles or new items of motor vehicle equipment: Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 4 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Name : Volvo Construction Equipment Address : 312 Volvo Way Shippensburg PA 17257 Country : US Company Phone : NR * NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

OMB Control No.: 2127-0004 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Submission Date : JUN 14, 2023 NHTSA Recall No. : 23E-044 Manufacturer Recall No. : NR Manufacturer Information : Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc. Address : Deka Road Lyon Station PA 19536-0147 Company phone : 610) 682-6361 Population : Number of potentially involved : 2,139 Estimated percentage with defect : 70 % Equipment Information : Brand / Trade 1 : Deka, see comments below Model : 648MF Part No. : 648MF Size : NR Function : NR Descriptive Information : Each battery produced in an assembly department at East Penn receives an assembly date code which is traceable to the building, line, day, and shift of manufacture. The defect at issue was traced back to a specific shift with one operator working on two different dates. All batteries produced on the two shifts in question are included in this recall. The recall population may have less than required cross sectional area of connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. East Penn anticipates the total number of batteries in the recall population will be reduced as sorting and quarantining continues. At the present time, East Penn does not believe that the entire recall population has been received by end users. Production Dates : FEB 28, 2023 – MAR 02, 2023 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 2 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Description of Defect : Description of the Defect : The defect at issue involves an incomplete electrical connection between the internal battery cell and the external terminal. This condition can be present in both or one of the terminals in the battery. This is an internal defect, not an external or visual defect. The defect can only be identified by a destructive product analysis. FMVSS 1 : NR FMVSS 2 : NR Description of the Safety Risk : Injury caused by potential rupture of the battery. Rupture can only happen if the battery is in a charged condition, the electrical connection is broken, and an electrical spark occurs internal to the battery. While load is applied, the internal post connection to the external post needs to separate and create a spark to ignite the internal gases and create the rupture, which also extinguishes the spark. Description of the Cause : Improper welding technique Identification of Any Warning that can Occur : Slow vehicle starting behavior. Abnormal behavior of the vehicle electrical system. Involved Components : Component Name : Battery Component Description : Starter Battery Component Part Number : 648MF Supplier Identification : Component Manufacturer Name : East Penn Manufacturing Co. Address : 102 Deka Rd. Lyon Station Pennsylvania 19536 Country : United States Chronology : 5/13/23 – Breached battery detected in the forming manufacturing process. 5/15/23 – Teardown was performed on breached batteries and capped terminal burn was identified as the root cause of the breach. Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 3 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 5/15/23 – Quarantine process for suspect product began. 5/16/23 through 5/26/23 – Destructive product analysis on quarantined product to isolate affected lots. 5/19/23 – Confirmation of field exposure and notification to distribution network of quarantine expectations and stop shipment decision. 5/23/23 – Notification of second affected datecode to distribution network for sorting efforts. No known warranty claims, field or service reports, or any vehicle crashes/injuries. Only two internal failures at the manufacturing facility in Lyons Station, PA Description of Remedy : Description of Remedy Program : Product quarantine conducted/to be conducted at Topton, PA distribution center, regional distribution centers, and wholesale customer locations. Communication to be sent to wholesale customers requesting that they conduct visual product inspection and quarantine affected batteries. Visual product inspection and quarantine to be conducted at wholesale customer locations by East Penn personnel. East Penn to support warranty credit claims for defective products that have been installed prior to manufacturer’s notification. East Penn will issue full credit at prevailing price and pay for related transportation costs associated with proper product disposal for all defective products that have been identified and quarantined prior to installation. How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component : The assembly datecode is the distinguishing characteristic. Identify How/When Recall Condition was Corrected in Production : The operator was removed from the production line. Event to be submitted to East Penn’s Corrective Action process. A team will be assigned to investigate the root cause(s) at which point permanent actions can be implemented (estimated time period 6/2023). Recall Schedule : Description of Recall Schedule : East Penn Manufacturing will begin to issue the owner, purchaser, dealer, and distributor notifications notifications within five (5) business days of receiving NHTSA’s approval of the letters. Planned Dealer Notification Date : JUN 09, 2023 – JUL 10, 2023 Planned Owner Notification Date : AUG 04, 2023 – SEP 08, 2023 Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23E-044 Page 4 The information contained in this report was submitted pursuant to 49 CFR §573 Purchaser Information : The following manufacturers purchased this defective/noncompliant equipment for possible use or installation in new motor vehicles or new items of motor vehicle equipment: Name : Volvo Construction Equipment Address : 312 Volvo Way Shippensburg PA 17257 Country : US Company Phone : NR * NR – Not Reported

**************************************************************************************************************

**************************************************************************************************************

SEOCONTENT-END