Investigations
HEADREST/HARNESS ADJUSTMENT BAR FAILS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06034 - closed, opened 2006-08-31.
NHTSA investigation PE06034 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-08-31 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-12-12 - 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 PE06034 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: "ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE SCREWS ATTACHING THE ADJUSTER BAR TO THE HEADREST LOOSEN AND DETACH. THIS MAY ALLOW THE ADJUSTER BAR TO FALL APART AND PREVENTS PROPER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE HARNESS..." 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
ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT THE SCREWS ATTACHING THE ADJUSTER BAR TO THE HEADREST LOOSEN AND DETACH. THIS MAY ALLOW THE ADJUSTER BAR TO FALL APART AND PREVENTS PROPER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF THE HARNESS STRAPS AND HEADREST. THE SCREWS ARE BEHIND THE SEATING AREA OF THE INFANT AND DO NOT FALL INTO THE CHILD'S REACH. DOREL JUVENILE GROUP (DJG) CONDUCTED SIX FMVSS 213 DYNAMIC TESTS ON SAMPLE SEATS COLLECTED FROM OWNERS. THE TEST WERE CONDUCTED WITH VARIOUS CONFIGURATIONS OF THE SCREWS NOT ATTACHED TO THE ADJUSTER BAR. THESE TESTS SIMULATE A FRONT IMPACT VEHICLE CRASH AT 30 MPH WITH A CHILD DUMMY POSITIONED AND BELTED PROPERLY IN THE CHILD SEAT. DOREL REPORTS THAT THE DUMMY KINEMATICS WERE NORMAL AND THE INJURY SCORES WERE WELL WITHIN THE FMVSS 213 REQUIREMENTS. THE COMPLAINT TREND HAS DIMINISHED OVER TIME. THE LAST COMPLAINT RECEIVED BY ODI WAS IN MAY OF 2006 AND DOREL HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ADJUSTER BAR SINCE 2005. A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. 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.
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.