Investigations
FAN BLADE FAILURE (ENGINE COOLING FAN)
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA05020 — closed, opened 2005-11-14 and involving the JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE.
NHTSA investigation EA05020 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2005-11-14 and currently closed. The subject of record is JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for JEEP. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-09-12 — 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 EA05020 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: "DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (06V199) OF CERTAIN JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE'S ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN COOLING FAN. THE 182,875 VEHIC..." 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 JEEP files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC) HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (06V199) OF CERTAIN JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE ENGINE'S ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVEN COOLING FAN. THE 182,875 VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ARE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 EQUIPPED WITH 4.0 LITER (SIX CYLINDER) ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 4, 2002 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2002; AND MY 2000 EQUIPPED WITH EITHER THE 4.0 LITER (SIX CYLINDER) OR THE 4.7 LITER (EIGHT CYLINDER) ENGINE MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 31, 2000 THROUGH JUNE 12, 2000. DCC NOTED THAT THEIR ANALYSIS OF FAILED PARTS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF BRITTLE FRACTURE OF THE FAN BLADE. DCC FURTHER STATED, "POOR BONDING BETWEEN THE RESIN MATERIAL AND THE GLASS FIBERS WAS OBSERVED, WHICH MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS." SINCE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAN FAILURE COULD NOT BE CONCLUSIVELY IDENTIFIED DCC DECIDED THE RECALL SCOPE WOULD BE DETERMINED BY THE BUILD DATE RANGE OF THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES. THERE WERE 48 REPORTS FOR MY 2000, AND 196 FOR MY 2002. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS ISSUE FOR REPORTS ON VEHICLES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL SCOPE.
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 JEEP Investigations
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
Underhood fires
Loss of Motive Power
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
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.