Investigations
TAILGATE CABLE BREAKAGE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03049 - closed, opened 2003-10-23.
NHTSA investigation PE03049 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2003-10-23 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-02-19 - 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 PE03049 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: "DURING THE PE, ODI DISCOVERED THAT ONE OR BOTH OF THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES CAN BREAK DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF METAL FATIGUE AT THE POINT WHERE THE CABLE FLEXES WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS OPENED AND CLOSED. CONCURRENTLY, THE S..." 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
DURING THE PE, ODI DISCOVERED THAT ONE OR BOTH OF THE TAILGATE SUPPORT CABLES CAN BREAK DUE TO THE EFFECTS OF METAL FATIGUE AT THE POINT WHERE THE CABLE FLEXES WHEN THE LIFT GATE IS OPENED AND CLOSED. CONCURRENTLY, THE STRENGTH OF THE CABLE DEGRADES OVER TIME DUE TO CORROSION OF THE WIRE STRANDS IN THE SUPPORT CABLES. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND CARGO IS BEING LOADED OR UNLOADED, THE TAILGATE CAN TIP DOWNWARD DISPLACING CARGO AND/OR PEOPLE TO THE GROUND WITHOUT WARNING. ODI IS ALSO AWARE OF ONE TOTAL SEPARATION OF THE TAILGATE FROM THE VEHICLE. OWNERS CANNOT EASILY DETECT WHETHER THE SUPPORT CABES ARE DAMAGED OR CORRODED BECAUSE THEY ARE COVERED BY A PROTECTIVE SHEATH. ODI IS UPGRADING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION FOR FURTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION. MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES WILL BE ADDED TO THE INVESTIGATION. FURTHER, WE WILL INCUDE ADDITIONAL VEHICLES, THOSE BEING THE AVALANCHE AND CADILLAC EXT, MODEL YEARS 2002-2003, AND THE SIERRA, MODEL YEARS 1999-2003.
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.
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.