Investigations
SIDE DOOR FIRES
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA86003 - closed, opened 1985-10-28.
NHTSA investigation EA86003 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1985-10-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-02-18 - 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 EA86003 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 OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: GM HAS DUPLICATED A FIRE USING SALTWATER ON THE DOOR SWITCHES. WATER MAY DROP FROM AN OPEN WINDOW ONTO THESWITCH PANEL ON THE DOOR ARMREST. GM REVIEWING RISK, WILL NOTIFY ODIBY LATE S..." 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 OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION: GM HAS DUPLICATED A FIRE USING SALTWATER ON THE DOOR SWITCHES. WATER MAY DROP FROM AN OPEN WINDOW ONTO THESWITCH PANEL ON THE DOOR ARMREST. GM REVIEWING RISK, WILL NOTIFY ODIBY LATE SEPT ON POSSIBLE FUTURE GM ACTION.ANALYSIS: SALT WATER CONTAMINATION MAY OCCUR. INCREASED INCIDENTS AREREPORTED IN THE WINTER MONTHS. SALT WATER MAY PROVIDE A CONDUCTIVE PATHBELOW CURRENT RATING OF FUSE BUT SUFFICIENT TO OVERHEAT SWITCH PANEL.STATUS: GM RECALLED E-BODY CONVERTIBLES (87V-167). GM RESPONSE TO11/23/87 IR DATED 12/15/87. EA CLOSED 2/18/88.===
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.