Investigations
DISABLED VEHICLE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA04029 - closed, opened 2004-10-29.
NHTSA investigation EA04029 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2004-10-29 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-07-12 - 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 EA04029 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 ALLEGED DEFECT INVOLVED ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE RESULTING IN A STALLED OR DISABLED VEHICLE. ODI'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE NATURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE IS SUCH THAT THE ENGINE MAY CONTINUE TO RUN AND T..." 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 ALLEGED DEFECT INVOLVED ENGINE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE RESULTING IN A STALLED OR DISABLED VEHICLE. ODI'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE NATURE OF THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE IS SUCH THAT THE ENGINE MAY CONTINUE TO RUN AND THEREFORE POWER ASSIST MAY NOT IMMEDIATELY BE LOST. THE AIR BRAKES WOULD CONTINUE TO FUNCTION REGARDLESS OF THE FAILURES SINCE, IN THIS APPLICATION, THE TRUCKS HAVE ADEQUATE AIR PRESSURE IN RESERVE TO MAKE A SAFE STOP. OUR ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF CRANKSHAFTS THAT ARE GOING TO FAIL HAVE ALREADY FAILED AND FUTURE FAILURES WOULD BE RANDOM AND NORMAL END OF LIFE CYCLE EVENTS. AFTER 7 YEARS OF SERVICE, THERE ARE NO KNOWN CRASHES, INJURIES OR FATALITIES AS A RESULT OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT. BASED ON ODI'S ANALYSIS, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. FURTHER USE OF THE AGENY 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. FULL TECHNICAL DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE IN ODI'S CLOSING REPORT.
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.