Investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA04002 — closed, opened 2004-01-06 and involving the OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE.
NHTSA investigation EA04002 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2004-01-06 and currently closed. The subject of record is OLDSMOBILE OLDSMOBILE, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for OLDSMOBILE. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-02-10 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
An Engineering Analysis like EA04002 is the deeper technical phase that follows a PE. NHTSA requests design, warranty, and field-failure data from the manufacturer, conducts its own testing when needed, and determines whether the evidence supports a safety defect finding that would compel a recall.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-042) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 AND 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER A..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related OLDSMOBILE files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2003, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE03-042) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 AND 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER AND TRAILBLAZER EXT, GMC ENVOY AND ENVOY XL, AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA VEHICLES. THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON JANUARY 6, 2004, AND THE SCOPE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MY 2003 ISUZU ASCENDER VEHICLES. ALL SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BUILT ON GENERAL MOTORS¿ GMT360 AND GMT370 PLATFORMS AND WERE ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH A WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY REFERRED TO AS THE "FAMILY" DESIGN MODULE (P/N 15171306 BASE, P/N 15171307 FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RAINSENSE AUTOMATIC MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPERS). WATER ENTERS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD TO CORRODE AND SHORT OUT, THUS RENDERING THE WIPER MOTOR/MODULE INOPERATIVE. IN NOVEMBER 2002, GM INTRODUCED INTO VEHICLE PRODUCTION A REDESIGNED WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY REFERRED TO AS THE ¿GLOBAL¿ DESIGN MODULE (P/N 15094704 BASE, P/N 15094705 FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RAINSENSE) TO BETTER CONTROL WATER INTRUSION. ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 1,179 NON-DUPLICATIVE OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE ON VEHICLES ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH THE ¿FAMILY¿ DESIGN MODULE. BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2004, GM HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 04V-046). ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
About This Investigation Type
An Engineering Analysis (EA) is the in-depth phase following a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA engineers conduct testing, collect data from manufacturers, and perform detailed technical analysis to determine whether a safety defect exists. An EA may lead to a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or, in rare cases, a mandatory recall order.
Other OLDSMOBILE Investigations
Loss of Headlights
TURN SIGNAL FAILURES
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
FUEL RAIL LEAKS
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.