Investigations
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY BOLT
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA85018 - closed, opened 1985-03-13.
NHTSA investigation EA85018 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1985-03-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-09-04 - 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 EA85018 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: "SUMMARY: GM ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATIONKIT INTENDED TO PREVENT PULLEY BOLT FAILURES BY KEEPING THE PULLEY INPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEREBY REDUCING THE BENDINGSTRESS..." 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
SUMMARY: GM ADMITS THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A MODIFICATIONKIT INTENDED TO PREVENT PULLEY BOLT FAILURES BY KEEPING THE PULLEY INPROPER ALIGNMENT WITH THE CRANKSHAFT AND THEREBY REDUCING THE BENDINGSTRESS ON THE BOLT. GM DOES NOT BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS SAFETY RELATEDAND WILL CONDUCT A SERVICE CAMPAIGN.ANALYSIS: THE HIGHEST FAILURE RATES HAVE OCCURRED ON VEHICLES EQUIPPEDWITH AC AND PS WHICH USE A TRIPLE SHEAVE PULLEY. THE MODIFICATION KITSHOULD REDUCE THE FAILURE RATE ON THESE VEHICLES.STATUS: GM LAUNCHED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN FEBRUARY 1987 APPLICABLE TO185,000 T BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TRIPLE PULLEYS. (PRODUCT CAMPAIGN84C27) EA CLOSED 9/4/87===
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.