Investigations
SLIDING DOOR LATCH FAILURE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA96025 - closed, opened 1996-10-15.
NHTSA investigation EA96025 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1996-10-15 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1998-07-30 - 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 EA96025 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: "ANALYSIS OF KNOWN INCIDENTS INDICATES A DECLINING TREND OVER THE LAST FIVE CALENDAR QUARTERS. EXTENSIVE TESTING OF INCIDENT VEHICLES HAS FAILED TO REPRODUCE OCCURRENCES OF FULL LATCH DISENGAGEMENT. NO FAILURE MODE WHICH..." 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
ANALYSIS OF KNOWN INCIDENTS INDICATES A DECLINING TREND OVER THE LAST FIVE CALENDAR QUARTERS. EXTENSIVE TESTING OF INCIDENT VEHICLES HAS FAILED TO REPRODUCE OCCURRENCES OF FULL LATCH DISENGAGEMENT. NO FAILURE MODE WHICH COULD CAUSE A PROPERLY LATCHED DOOR TO LOSE FULL LATCH ENGAGEMENT WHILE DRIVING HAS BEEN VERIFIED AS A CAUSAL FACTOR IN ANY OF THE KNOWN INCIDENT VEHICLES DURING THIS INVESTIGATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. HOWEVER, ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINT INPUT FOR THE NEXY YEAR AND WILL REQUEST UPDATED REPORTS FROM CHRYSLER DURING THAT PROCESS. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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.