Investigations
CLUTCH HYDRAULIC LINE
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA98005 - closed, opened 1998-02-27.
NHTSA investigation EA98005 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1998-02-27 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1999-05-24 - 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 EA98005 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: "ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, WHEN OPERATED AT MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD WHILE DRIVING UP A GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE CLUTCH LINE TEMPERATURES THA..." 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
ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, WHEN OPERATED AT MAXIMUM RATED VEHICLE LOAD WHILE DRIVING UP A GRADE IN FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE LOW RANGE IN HOT AMBIENT CONDITIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE CLUTCH LINE TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE TEMPERATURE LIMITS OF THE CLUTCH LINE MATERIAL. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CLUTCH LINE CAN RUPTURE AND SPRAY HYDRAULIC FLUID ONTO EXHAUST SURFACES THAT ARE HOT ENOUGH TO IGNITE THE FLUID AND CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE. FIELD FAILURE HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN REPORTED WHILE TOWING HEAVY TRAILER LOADS UP GRADES ON HOT SUMER DAYS. CHRYSLER WILL RECALL THE SUBJECT VAEHICLES AND REPLACE THE CLUTCH LINE WITH A TWO PIECE ASSEMBLY USING A STEEL-BRAIDED REINFORCED TEFLON TUBE IN THE REGION NEAREST EXHAUST COMPONENTS.
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.