Investigations
WHEEL SEPARATIONS
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA04032 - closed, opened 2004-11-23.
NHTSA investigation EA04032 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2004-11-23 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2005-12-30 - 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 EA04032 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 JUNE 20, 2005, KEYSTONE RV NOTIFIED ODI OF KEYSTONE'S INTENTION TO CONDUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 05V-309 TO ADDRESS 2,668 VEHICLES CONSISTING OF 1,677 MY 2004 MONTANA, 550 MY 2004 EVEREST, AND 441 MY 2005 EVEREST VEHICLES E..." 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
ON JUNE 20, 2005, KEYSTONE RV NOTIFIED ODI OF KEYSTONE'S INTENTION TO CONDUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN 05V-309 TO ADDRESS 2,668 VEHICLES CONSISTING OF 1,677 MY 2004 MONTANA, 550 MY 2004 EVEREST, AND 441 MY 2005 EVEREST VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS. THIS CAMPAIGN PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE WHEELS, INSPECT THE WHEEL ENDS FOR INDICATIONS OF PRIOR LOOSENING AND/OR OTHER DAMAGE, REMOVE PAINT AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WHEEL MOUNTING INTERFACE, AND EDUCATE THE OWNER ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CHECKING THE TORQUE OF THE WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS AS PRESCRIBED IN KEYSTONE'S OWNER'S MANUAL. ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2005 KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTED WHEEL END SERVICING INFORMATION IN DVD FORMAT TO 114,618 OWNERS OF NON-CAMPAIGNED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 1, 2003 AND SEPT 1, 2005. ALTHOUGH KEYSTONE HAS INDICATED THAT THEY HAVE IMPROVED THE QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY OF THE WHEEL NUT INSTALLATION AND TORQUING, ODI IS CONCERNED THAT THE NEED FOR FREQUENT RETORQUE MAY BE INDICATIVE THAT OTHER CURRENTLY-UNADDRESSED FACTORS MAY BE INVOLVED. ODI WILL CLOSE THIS INVESTIGATION BUT CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE WHEEL SEPARATION ISSUE AT KEYSTONE RV.
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.