Investigations
ALLEGED LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA98018 - closed, opened 1998-08-31.
NHTSA investigation EA98018 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1998-08-31 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1999-09-30 - 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 EA98018 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: "THE DETAILS OF INFORMATION AND DATA EVALUATED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION ARE STATED IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT, DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND RESULTING FROM INTERFERENCE BY THE FL..." 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
THE DETAILS OF INFORMATION AND DATA EVALUATED DURING THIS INVESTIGATION ARE STATED IN THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT, DATED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND RESULTING FROM INTERFERENCE BY THE FLOOR MAT WITH PROPER OPERATION OF THE THROTTLE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WAS NOT IDENTIFIED DURING THE COURSE OF THE EA, AND THE INVRESTIGATION HAS BEEN CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FUTURE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE TO IDENTIFY ANY INCREASING TREND OF OCCURRENCE, AND 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.