Investigations
STEERING ARM SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03025 - closed, opened 2003-06-09 and involving the INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL.
NHTSA investigation PE03025 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-06-09 and currently closed. The subject of record is INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for INTERNATIONAL. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2003-10-07 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE03025 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "INTERNATIONAL HAS RECEIVED NO OTHER OWNER REPORTS OF FAILURES OTHER THAN THE EVENT FORWARDED BY ODI. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW OF THE CRASH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER RAN OVER A LARGE METAL OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT STR..." 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. Related INTERNATIONAL files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
INTERNATIONAL HAS RECEIVED NO OTHER OWNER REPORTS OF FAILURES OTHER THAN THE EVENT FORWARDED BY ODI. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW OF THE CRASH, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER RAN OVER A LARGE METAL OBJECT IN THE ROAD THAT STRUCK THE PITMAN ARM. THE IMPACT WITH THE METAL OBJECT CAUSED A SEVERVE LATERAL LOAD ON THE PITMAN ARM RETAINING BOLT, FRACTURING IT AND ALLOWING THE PITMAN ARM TO SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. BASED ON INTERNATIONAL'S DATA AND FURTHER REVIEW OF THE CRASH, A SAFTEY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME AND FUTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE NOT CURRENTLY WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFTEY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Other INTERNATIONAL Investigations
International Autos, Inc. / Mini Recall
Software security vulnerability
Software security vulnerability
Headlight failures/fires
Brake S-Cam Tube Bracket Failure
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.