Investigations
AXLE SPINDLE WELD FRACTURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06040 - closed, opened 2006-09-12.
NHTSA investigation PE06040 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-09-12 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2006-12-06 - 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 PE06040 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: "AXLE SUPPLIER LIPPERT COMPONENTS MANUFACTURED THE SUSPECT AXLES, AND HAS ADVISED ODI THAT LIPPERT HAS INSPECTED AND/OR REPLACED ALL SUSPECT AXLES SOLD TO DUTCHMEN MFG BEFORE ANY SUSPECT AXLES / VEHICLES WERE PLACED INTO..." 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
AXLE SUPPLIER LIPPERT COMPONENTS MANUFACTURED THE SUSPECT AXLES, AND HAS ADVISED ODI THAT LIPPERT HAS INSPECTED AND/OR REPLACED ALL SUSPECT AXLES SOLD TO DUTCHMEN MFG BEFORE ANY SUSPECT AXLES / VEHICLES WERE PLACED INTO SERVICE. DUTCHMEN MFG HAS NOT REPORTED ANY ADDITIONAL FRACTURED AXLE - SPINDLE WELDS SINCE THE INITIAL THREE INCIDENTS THAT WERE THAT WERE REPORTED BETWEEN JUNE 17 AND JUNE 21, 2006. ODI WILL MONITOR DUTCHMEN MFG FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS (UNTIL MAY 2007) FOR ANY AXLE - SPINDLE WELD PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AND WILL INITIATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IF ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE REPORTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE 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.