Investigations
SEAT TRACK
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA88015 - closed, opened 1988-01-19.
NHTSA investigation EA88015 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1988-01-19 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-05-16 - 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 EA88015 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: RESULTS OF ETF TESTING SHOW THAT A FAILED SEAT TRACK CAUSES THETHE SEAT ASSEMBLY TO RECLINE UNTIL THE SEAT BACK CONTACTS THE REAR SEATCUSHION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ANALYSIS: THE ROC..." 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: RESULTS OF ETF TESTING SHOW THAT A FAILED SEAT TRACK CAUSES THETHE SEAT ASSEMBLY TO RECLINE UNTIL THE SEAT BACK CONTACTS THE REAR SEATCUSHION, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.ANALYSIS: THE ROCKER RECLINER SEAT MOUNTING BRACKET IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLESSEPARATES FROM THE TRACK ASSEMBLY BECAUSE OF METAL FATIGUE. AMC HAS MOD-IFIED THE SEAT TRACK DESIGN AND APPARENTLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM.RECOMMENDATION: TEST ADDITIONAL FAILED SEATS AND SEND A RECALL REQUESTLETTER.===
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.