Investigations
TIRE FAILURE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA06021 - closed, opened 2006-12-27.
NHTSA investigation EA06021 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2006-12-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-07-10 - 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 EA06021 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 JULY 2, 2007, COOPER TIRE (COOPER) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING BELT SEPARATION IN DOMINATOR SPORT A/T LT265/75R16 LOAD RANGE E TIRES PRODUCED FROM JULY 2, 2002 THROUGH MARCH 30, 2005 (COO..." 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 JULY 2, 2007, COOPER TIRE (COOPER) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING BELT SEPARATION IN DOMINATOR SPORT A/T LT265/75R16 LOAD RANGE E TIRES PRODUCED FROM JULY 2, 2002 THROUGH MARCH 30, 2005 (COOPER RECALL NO. 148, NHTSA RECALL NO. 07T-005). COOPER PRODUCED 91,747 SUBJECT TIRES, WHICH WERE SOLD ONLY THROUGH DISCOUNT TIRE. THE SUBJECT TIRES EXHIBITED HIGH ADJUSTMENT AND PROPERTY DAMAGE CLAIM RATES DUE TO BELT SEPARATIONS, WITH PEAK FAILURE RATES OBSERVED IN TIRES PRODUCED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2002 AND THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2003. ALTHOUGH COOPER WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN THE SUBJECT TIRES, IT IS RECALLING THE TIRES BASED ON THE FIELD PERFORMANCE DATA AND REPLACING THEM WITH REDESIGNED TIRES THAT HAVE NYLON OVERLAYS IN THE BELT PACKAGE. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED BASED ON COOPER'S RECALL.
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.