Investigations
STEERING WHEEL AND SHAFT BOLTS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE05056 — closed, opened 2005-10-26 and involving the DODGE DURANGO.
NHTSA investigation PE05056 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2005-10-26 and currently closed. The subject of record is DODGE DURANGO, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for DODGE. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-03-09 — 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 PE05056 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: "ON OCTOBER 26, 2005 ODI OPENED PE05-056 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF LOOSE OR MISSING STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING SHAFT COUPLING BOLTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 AND 2005 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MY 2005 DOD..." 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 DODGE files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ON OCTOBER 26, 2005 ODI OPENED PE05-056 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF LOOSE OR MISSING STEERING WHEEL OR STEERING SHAFT COUPLING BOLTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 AND 2005 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MY 2005 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BY DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION (DCC). DURING PE05-056 ODI IDENTIFIED 3 OWNER COMPLAINTS TO ODI OR DCC, 21 FIELD REPORTS TO DCC AND 142 WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONDITIONS. THE REPORTS AND CLAIMS INCLUDED 8 INCIDENTS OF EITHER STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION OR STEERING SHAFT DECOUPLING WHILE DRIVING DUE TO LOOSE OR MISSING BOLTS. ONE OF THE FAILURES RESULTED IN A CRASH. PE05-056 HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-004) TO CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
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 DODGE Investigations
Vehicle entrapment
Back up camera failure
Vehicle entrapment
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529
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.