Investigations
REAR WHEEL LOCKUP
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE04055 — closed, opened 2004-08-03 and involving the SUZUKI SUZUKI.
NHTSA investigation PE04055 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2004-08-03 and currently closed. The subject of record is SUZUKI SUZUKI, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for SUZUKI. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2004-11-12 — 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 PE04055 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: "A BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN SERVICING DR350'S ALLEGED THAT THE COUNTER-BALANCER GEAR-INDEXING PIN IS NOT PROPERLY RETAINED AND MAY BECOME DISPLACED. THE DISPLACED PIN THEN CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH POSSIBLE..." 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 SUZUKI files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
A BUSINESS SPECIALIZING IN SERVICING DR350'S ALLEGED THAT THE COUNTER-BALANCER GEAR-INDEXING PIN IS NOT PROPERLY RETAINED AND MAY BECOME DISPLACED. THE DISPLACED PIN THEN CAUSES CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WITH POSSIBLE REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP. AFTER OPENING THIS PE, ODI GATHERED INFORMATION FROM AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION, SUZUKI DEALERS, INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOPS, AND SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE OWNERS. WE FOCUSED ON THE DUAL-PURPOSE VARIANTS OF THE DR350 MODEL LINEUP AS THESE ARE THE ONLY STREET-LEGAL VERSIONS THAT, CONSEQUENTLY, ARE WITHIN OUR JURISDICTION. THE LONE CRASH, OCCURING IN 1997, INVOLVED A MY 1997 DR350SE DUAL-PURPOSE MOTORCYCLE, WITH ONE MINOR INJURY. THE CRASH ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED WHEN THE ENGINE'S COUNTER-BALANCER BECAME MIS-TIMED AND COLLIDED WITH THE ENGINE'S CONNECTING ROD, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP. HOWEVER, BASED ON THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 3 FAILURES ON VEHICLES THAT ARE 5 TO 10 YEARS OLD, NO DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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 SUZUKI Investigations
Loss of headlights
Motorcycle Stalling
Occupant Classification System Failure
HEADLIGHT / DRL MALFUNCTION
MOTORCYCLE STALLING
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.