Investigations
POWER STEERING HOSE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA89016 - closed, opened 1989-02-27.
NHTSA investigation EA89016 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1989-02-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1989-04-12 - 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 EA89016 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: ACCORDING TO WINNEBAGO, ROAD AND ENGINE VIBRATION MAY CAUSEFAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE IN CERTAIN H BODYVEHICLES. WINNEBAGO HAS STATED THAT A METAL ELBOW IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLYMAY FATIGUE. TO..." 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: ACCORDING TO WINNEBAGO, ROAD AND ENGINE VIBRATION MAY CAUSEFAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HIGH PRESSURE HOSE IN CERTAIN H BODYVEHICLES. WINNEBAGO HAS STATED THAT A METAL ELBOW IN THE HOSE ASSEMBLYMAY FATIGUE. TO REMEDY THIS, WINNEBAGO HAS DEVELOPED A STABLIZING BRACKETTO ALLEVIATE RELATIVE MOTION OF THE COMPONENTS. PRODUCTION MODELS MODIFIEDON AUGUST 9, 1989.LEAKAGE OF THE POWER ASSIST HYDRAULIC FLUID WILL NOT CAUSE A LOSS INSTEERING. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT POWER ASSIST WILL DEGRADE GRADUALLY,DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE OPENING, AND THE AMOUNT OF STEERING ASSISTREQUIRED (I.E. LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS). THE PRIMARY RISK IS THATHYDRAULIC FLUID ATOMIZED UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE POWER STEERING HOSE WILLCONTACT AN IGNITION SOURCE RESULTING IN A FIRE. THE AFFECTED JOINT ISLOCATED BELOW THE MID LINE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HOWEVER,CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CAUSE THE ATOMIZED FLUID TO CONTACT AN IGNITION SOURCE(EXHAUST, WIRING, ETC.).BY LETTER DATED MARCH 30, 1989, WINNEBAGO ANNOUNCED THE RECALL OF THEEFFECTED H BODY MOTORHOMES.===
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.