Investigations
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA05022 — closed, opened 2005-12-27 and involving the JEEP LIBERTY.
NHTSA investigation EA05022 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2005-12-27 and currently closed. The subject of record is JEEP LIBERTY, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for JEEP. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-12-21 — 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 EA05022 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 OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION OF FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN MODEL YEAR 2002 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES. ON AUGUST 26, 2006, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE)05-046 TO INVESTIGATE..." 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
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION OF FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLES IN MODEL YEAR 2002 JEEP LIBERTY VEHICLES. ON AUGUST 26, 2006, ODI OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE)05-046 TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINT REPORTS THAT ALLEGED PROBLEMS WITH LATCHING AND UNLATCHING THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE. SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINTS REPORTED THAT SOMETHING WAS BROKEN INSIDE OF THE BUCKLE. THE INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT SOME BUCKLES MAY EXPERIENCE FAILURE AND SEPARATION OF ONE, OR BOTH, OF THE INTERNAL LATCH GUIDE LEAF SPRINGS. LACK OF LEAF SPRING FUNCTION DOES NOT APPEAR TO INHIBIT BUCKLE OPERATION BECAUSE THERE IS ANOTHER SPRING THAT RETURNS THE RELEASE BUTTON. HOWEVER, A SEPARATED LEAF SPRING MAY IMPEDE THE MOTION OF THE BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTON IF IT BECOMES ENGAGED WITH MOVING PARTS. ANALYSIS OF THE AVAILABLE DATA SHOW THAT VEHICLES EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BUCKLES WERE EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIMARILY IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2001. IN EARLY CY 2002, A CHANGE WAS MADE TO THE TOOLING USED TO PRODUCE THE BUCKLES. THIS CHANGE AFFECTED THE LEAF SPRINGS AND APPEARS TO HAVE HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT IN CORRECTING THE BUCKLE ISSUES THAT WERE EXPERIENCED IN THE EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES. THE COMPLAINT REPORT TREND IS DOWN AND THE FREQUENCY OF CONSUMER REPORTS IN CY 2006 HAS DECLINED TO THAT OF CY 2004. SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THIS RESUME.
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.