Investigations
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA85029 - closed, opened 1985-05-09 and involving the NISSAN NISSAN.
NHTSA investigation EA85029 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1985-05-09 and currently closed. The subject of record is NISSAN NISSAN, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for NISSAN. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1989-07-11 - 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 EA85029 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: ODI HAS SENT FOUR IRS TO NISSAN (11/29/84, 10/10/85, 4/9/86, &11/14/86). ETF HAS TESTED 6 NISSAN VEHICLES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATESUDDEN ACCEL. ODI INSPECTED 9 VEHICLES AND ALL OPERATED NORMALLY. ALL15 VEHICL..." 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 NISSAN files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
SUMMARY: ODI HAS SENT FOUR IRS TO NISSAN (11/29/84, 10/10/85, 4/9/86, &11/14/86). ETF HAS TESTED 6 NISSAN VEHICLES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATESUDDEN ACCEL. ODI INSPECTED 9 VEHICLES AND ALL OPERATED NORMALLY. ALL15 VEHICLES WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SUDDEN ACCELERATIONINCIDENTS.ANALYSIS: THERE ARE THREE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SA. (1) THE DRIVER PUSHED ONTHE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, (2) THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPON-SIVE TO THE DRIVERS INITIAL APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRESSURESO THE DRIVER PRESSES HARDER AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLYACCELERATES AT A FASTER RATE THAN ANTICIPATED AND WITH THE CLOSE PROXIMITYOF OTHER CARS OR BUILDINGS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO RECOVER IN TIME TOAVOID AN ACCIDENT, (3) FLOOR MAT BUNCHES UP AND INTERFERESWITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL.STATUS: BY LETTER DATED 6/29/87, NISSAN ANNOUNCED THE RECALL OF183,519 VEHICLES (87V-098) TO INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK KIT. AN AUDITSURVEY OF THE RECALL WILL BE INITIATED BY NHTSA IN THE FALL OF 1988.NHTSA WROTE TO NISSAN ON MAY 24, 1988 CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESHIFT-LOCK DEVICE INSTALLED DURING RECALL CAMPAIGN 87V-098. A RESPONSEIS DUE ON AUGUST 16, 1988.===
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 NISSAN Investigations
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
Inner Tie Rod Failures
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
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.