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NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA86012 - closed, opened 1986-04-28.
NHTSA investigation EA86012 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1986-04-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1989-07-28 - 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 EA86012 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 INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THATTHE JIFFLOX ACCIDENT RATE IS NO WORSE THAN OTHER DOLLIES. FURTHERMORETHEY CLAIM THAT THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY MODIFICATIONS DO NOT SUBSTANTIALLYIMPROVE..." 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 INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS THATTHE JIFFLOX ACCIDENT RATE IS NO WORSE THAN OTHER DOLLIES. FURTHERMORETHEY CLAIM THAT THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY MODIFICATIONS DO NOT SUBSTANTIALLYIMPROVE THE ACCIDENT RATE.ANALYSIS: MOST OF THE FLEETS UTILIZING THE JIFFLOX HAVE PERFORMED THEIROWN MODIFICATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE INJURIES. MOST FLEETS HAVE ADDEDSOME TYPE OF COUNTERWEIGHT TO REDUCE TONGUE WEIGHT, ADDED GRAB HANDLES TOEASE DOLLY MOVEMENT, AND UTILIZE A PUSH/PULL DEVICE TO EASE FIFTH WHEELMOVEMENT. ONE FLEET HAS MODIFIED THE LANDING LEG TO PREVENT COLLAPSES.STATUS: IR'S SENT TO FOUR FLEETS ON 23 DEC 87, TO OBTAIN UPDATED INJURYSTATISTICS. DRAFT REQUEST FOR DEFECT REPORT SENT TO OCC ON 4 JAN 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.