Investigations
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE07052 - closed, opened 2007-10-19 and involving the CHRYSLER CHRYSLER.
NHTSA investigation PE07052 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2007-10-19 and currently closed. The subject of record is CHRYSLER CHRYSLER, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for CHRYSLER. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-02-21 - 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 PE07052 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: "COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN CHRYSLER'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S NOVEMBER 2, 2007 INFORMATION REQUEST, CHRYSLER ASSERTS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT OCCURS ONLY IN THE 4.0..." 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 CHRYSLER files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD, NEAR THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN CHRYSLER'S RESPONSE TO ODI'S NOVEMBER 2, 2007 INFORMATION REQUEST, CHRYSLER ASSERTS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT OCCURS ONLY IN THE 4.0L ENGINES AND THE CONSUMER WILL EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID OR A NOISY POWER STEERING PUMP BEFORE SEEING ANY EVIDENCE OF SMOKE OR FIRE. CHRYSLER ALSO STATES THAT "A TUBE NUT ON THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING LINE WAS DISCOVERED TO BE CROSS THREADED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS AND DID NOT ALLOW PROPER SEALING OF THE O-RING." THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM IN THE 4.0L ENGINE IS ASSEMBLED AT THE CHRYSLER PLANT. THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FOR THE 3.8L ENGINES ARRIVES AT THE CHRYSLER PLANT PRE-ASSEMBLED. CHRYSLER FOUND THAT IN THE 4.0L ENGINE, "IT WAS POSSIBLE TO CROSS-THREAD THE TUBE NUT ON THE HIGH PRESSURE LINE DURING ITS ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING GEAR, THUS CREATING AN IMPROPER SEAL." CHRYSLER IMPLEMENTED ASSEMBLY PLANT PROCESS CHANGES TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSS-THREADING, AND APPLIED ADDITIONAL QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES TO DETECT POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKS. CHRYSLER STATED THAT "WARRANTY AND FIELD DATA SUGGESTS THAT THESE PROCESS CHANGES HAVE MINIMIZED THE POSSIBILITY OF CROSS-THREADING." WITH REGARD TO THE VEHICLES PRODUCED PRIOR TO THE PRODUCTION CHANGE, A REVIEW OF THE WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT DECLINED IN THE 4.0L POPULATION. ODI IS UPGRADING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA08-006, TO FURTHER EVALUATE THE ISSUE.
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 CHRYSLER Investigations
Recall 23V-413 Post Remedy Failures
Intermittent Loss of Electric Power Steering
Recall 19V-293 Post Remedy Failures
Engine Stall With Intermittent Restart
Loss of motive power due to an internal wiring connector short.
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.