Investigations
DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING FAILURE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA04013 - closed, opened 2004-06-04.
NHTSA investigation EA04013 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2004-06-04 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-05-25 - 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 EA04013 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: "THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED). IN ITS O..." 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.
Investigation Summary
THE DRIVER AIR BAG CLOCKSPRING CAN DEVELOP AN OPEN-CIRCUIT CONDITION RESULTING IN NONFUNCTIONAL DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG, HORN, CRUISE CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED), AND/OR STEERING WHEEL RADIO CONTROL (IF EQUIPPED). IN ITS OCTOBER 5, 2004 LETTER TO NHTSA, DAIMLERCHRYSLER STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL AND REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING ASSEMBLY ON ALL MY 1998.5-2000 DAIMLERCHRYSLER MINIVANS, BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1998 AND AUGUST 2000, WITH 70,000 MILES OR LESS. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THIS COMPONENT ON MY 1998.5-2000 MINIVANS, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. THE DETAILS OF THE CORRECTIVE ACTION ARE DESCRIBED IN DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S LETTER (SEE RECALL NO. 04V-480). THE AGENCY BELIEVES THAT FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH RESPECT TO THOSE VEHICLES COVERED ONLY BY THE LIFETIME WARRANTY. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE PAGE 2 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
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.
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. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.