Investigations
SHIELD POPS UP
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA86027 - closed, opened 1986-09-10.
NHTSA investigation EA86027 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1986-09-10 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-05-14 - 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 EA86027 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: CENTURY BELIEVES THAT THE ONLY REASON THE SHIELD POPS UP IS BE-CAUSE CONSUMERS DO NOT LATCH THE SHIELD SECURELY.ANALYSIS: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SOME USERS OF THE SUBJECT CHILD SEATSMAY INADVERTENTLY NOT PUSH..." 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: CENTURY BELIEVES THAT THE ONLY REASON THE SHIELD POPS UP IS BE-CAUSE CONSUMERS DO NOT LATCH THE SHIELD SECURELY.ANALYSIS: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS SOME USERS OF THE SUBJECT CHILD SEATSMAY INADVERTENTLY NOT PUSH THE LATCH HANDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN SO THAT THETONGUE IS NOT LOCKED IN PLACE. MAILING A REMINDER LABEL AND INSTRUCTIONSTO CONSUMERS WOULD HELP THEM TO ACHIEVE A FULL LATCH HANDLE DEPRESSION.STATUS: A RECALL RELATED LETTER WAS SENT TO CENTURY ON MARCH 4, 1987.A 573 LETTER DATED MAY 5, 1987, HAS BEEN RECEIVED. THE RECALL (87E-018),INVOLVING 92,490 UNITS, COVERS THE POPULATION AND SUBJECT DEFECT ADDRESSEDIN THIS INVESTIGATION. THIS EA WAS CLOSED ON MAY 14, 1987.===
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.