Investigations
Engine Stall
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA10006 — closed, opened 2010-08-18 and involving the PONTIAC PONTIAC.
NHTSA investigation EA10006 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 2010-08-18 and currently closed. The subject of record is PONTIAC PONTIAC, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for PONTIAC. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2010-09-16 — 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 EA10006 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 August 26, 2010, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with Engine Control Modules that could result in engine stall while drivin..." 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 PONTIAC files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
On August 26, 2010, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with Engine Control Modules that could result in engine stall while driving in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2008 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive and manufactured between April 19, 2004 and January 2, 2008. Toyota's report indicated that cracks may develop at certain solder point or on varistors on the ECMs. According to Toyota, such cracks generally resulted in engine warning lamp illumination, harsh shifting or engine no-start. In some cases, if the cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven. Toyota will notify owners of subject vehicles that they should return their vehicles to a Toyota or Pontiac dealer. Dealers will be instructed to inspect the production number of the ECM for each vehicle and replace the ECM if necessary. On November 30, 2009, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE09-054) to investigate alleged engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2006 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles. In its response to ODI's information request, submitted on March 2, 2010, Toyota indicated that it had identified two possible conditions with ECMs used in MY 2005 through 2007 Toyota Corolla and Matrix vehicles: 1) cracks forming between the IC and the board caused by an improperly cured conformal coating applied to the circuit boards after the soldering process is completed; and 2) cracks occurring in a variable resistor (varistor) due to overheating. During the manufacturing process a glass coating is created on the surface of the varistor. Between March and August 2010, Toyota began collecting ECMs from the field to further investigate failure modes that may result in engine stall. Toyota also conducted durability testing
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.
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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.