Investigations
STEERING LOCKUP
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA89025 - closed, opened 1989-06-08.
NHTSA investigation EA89025 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1989-06-08 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1990-01-29 - 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 EA89025 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: THE PE REVEALED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESCONSISTS OF TWO RIGHT ANGLE GEAR BOXES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE TWOSTEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES IN THE CAB. THE OUTPUT FROM THESE GEAR BOXES ISCONNE..." 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: THE PE REVEALED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESCONSISTS OF TWO RIGHT ANGLE GEAR BOXES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE TWOSTEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES IN THE CAB. THE OUTPUT FROM THESE GEAR BOXES ISCONNECTED, VIA U JOINT FITTED CROSS SHAFTS, TO A THREE WAY RIGHT ANGLE GEARBOX WHICH RECEIVES INPUT FROM EITHER STEERING WHEEL AND OPERATES THESTEERING BOX ON THE CHASSIS. ANALYSIS BY THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER (GM)INDICATES PROBABLE CAUSE OF HARD STEERING AND COMPONENT FAILURE ISEXCESSIVE SIDE THRUST LOADS IN THE CHASSIS GEAR BOX. PROBABLE CAUSE ISMISALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE THREE WAY GEAR BOX AND THE CHASSIS GEAR BOX.ELGIN HAS MODIFIED AT LEAST 12 UNITS IN THE FIELD WITH A DUAL U JOINTARRANGEMENT WHICH REDUCES THE NEED FOR A PERFECT SHAFT ALIGNMENT BETWEENTHE BOXES. ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, THE HIGH FAILURE RATEINDICATES FURTHER ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE IF MODIFICATION OF THEREMAINING UNITS IS NECESSARY.===
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.