Investigations
DRAWBAR
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA88002 - closed, opened 1987-10-01.
NHTSA investigation EA88002 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1987-10-01 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-04-04 - 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 EA88002 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 STATES THATTHE TRAILERS AND DRAWBARS WERE BUILT TO A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFICATION.ALLEGEDLY A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A DRAWBAR BREAKING. DELTACONTACTED THE..." 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 STATES THATTHE TRAILERS AND DRAWBARS WERE BUILT TO A CUSTOMER'S SPECIFICATION.ALLEGEDLY A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO A DRAWBAR BREAKING. DELTACONTACTED THE ODI STAFF TO CLARIFY WHO HAS THE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TOCORRECT THE PROBLEM.ANALYSIS: DURING CERTAIN "JACK KNIFE" TURNS IN CLOSE QUARTERS MANEUVERS,THE DRAW BAR MAY HIT A REINFORCING WING PLATE ON THE PINTLE HOOK STRUCTURE,WHICH CAUSES THE DRAW BAR TO BEND RESULTING IN THE REAR TRAILER NOTTRACKING TRUE. IN SOME INSTANCES THE DRAWBAR BECOMES KINKED, SETTING UPCONDITIONS FOR A CRACK TO GENERATE. DELTA FOUND THAT WHEN THE REINFORCINGPLATES WERE REMOVED, DAMAGE TO THE DRAWBARS CEASED. DELTA REMOVED THETRAILERS FROM SERVICE ON APPROXIMATELY JUNE 5, 1987, AND BEGAN MAKING THENECESSARY REPAIRS. IT APPEARS THAT DELTA IS REPAIRING THE DRAWBARS TOPREVENT INCURRING ANY FUTURE LIABILITY AS THE RESULT OF A DRAWBAR FAILURE.A RECALL REQUEST TO LEGITIMIZE DELTA'S CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS SENT ONJULY 30, 1987. DELTA HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE LETTER, NOR HAVE THEYRESPONDED TO TELEPHONE MESSAGES.STATUS: DELTA CLAIMS TO HAVE RESPONDED TO OUR RR LETTER ON DECEMBER 8,1987, DELTA WAS CONTACTED AND THEY AGREED FURNISH A DUPLICATE COPY OF THEPREVIOUS RESPONSE. IT HAS YET TO APPEAR.===
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.