Investigations
WELDS CRACK
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA86030 - closed, opened 1986-09-12.
NHTSA investigation EA86030 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1986-09-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-12-04 - 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 EA86030 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 MAINTAINS THAT THE WHEEL FAILURES ARE AT WORST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT DUE TO OWNER ABUSE OR AN OCCASIONAL FAULTY WELD. ALLEGEDLY, ANY FAILURES ARE FROM THE RECALLE..." 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 MAINTAINS THAT THE WHEEL FAILURES ARE AT WORST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT DUE TO OWNER ABUSE OR AN OCCASIONAL FAULTY WELD. ALLEGEDLY, ANY FAILURES ARE FROM THE RECALLED GRANVILLE UNITS MIS-APPLIED BY ACRA TIRE.ANALYSIS: THE RADIAL TIRE APPEARS TO OVERLOAD THE WELDED DUAL REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN FATIGUE CRACKS. THE FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE JOINTS RESULTS IN AIR LOSS AND POTENTIAL SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE.STATUS: THE SUSPECT WHEELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY THE KNOWN VEHICLE MANUFACTURER (GRANVILLE 87V-042). CLOSED 12/4/87. #===
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.