Investigations
STEERING BOX MOUNTING BRACKET CRACK
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06051 - closed, opened 2006-11-13.
NHTSA investigation PE06051 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2006-11-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2007-03-22 - 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 PE06051 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: "THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A FLEET ALLEGING THAT THEY HAVE HAD NINE INCIDENTS WHERE CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY. THESE CRACKS WERE ALLOWING..." 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
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS CONTACTED BY A FLEET ALLEGING THAT THEY HAVE HAD NINE INCIDENTS WHERE CRACKS WERE FOUND IN THE BRACKET THAT SUPPORTS THE STEERING GEAR BOX ASSEMBLY. THESE CRACKS WERE ALLOWING MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING BOX. ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT SHOULD THIS BRACKET COMPLETELY FAIL WHILE THE BUS IS BEING DRIVEN, A LOSS OF STEERING WOULD OCCUR. AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INVESTIGATION, MCI HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL GUSSET TO THE BRACKETS AND REWELD AS NECESSARY. THE TARGET DATE FOR LAUNCHING THE CORRECTIVE ACTION IS MARCH 31, 2007. MCI'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED IN THE FUTURE.
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.