Investigations
IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK SYSTEM
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08006 - closed, opened 2008-01-29.
NHTSA investigation PE08006 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-01-29 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-04-14 - 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 PE08006 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: "THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK AND SHIFT LOCK (BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK) SYSTEMS ARE MECHANICALLY ACTUATED. THE SYSTEMS UTILIZE TWO CABLE ASSEMBLIES THAT CONNECT TO A PLASTIC HOUSING MOUNTED TO THE SHIFT LEVER..." 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
THE SUBJECT VEHICLE IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK AND SHIFT LOCK (BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK) SYSTEMS ARE MECHANICALLY ACTUATED. THE SYSTEMS UTILIZE TWO CABLE ASSEMBLIES THAT CONNECT TO A PLASTIC HOUSING MOUNTED TO THE SHIFT LEVER MECHANISM. WITHIN THE HOUSING IS A LEVER (INTERLOCK LEVER) THAT THE IGNITION-PARK INTERLOCK CABLE CONNECTS TO. WHEN THE INTERLOCK LEVER IS POSITIONED IN ITS REARWARD TRAVEL RANGE, THE IGNITION KEY REMOVAL IS PREVENTED; WHEN THE LEVER IS POSITIONED IN ITS FORWARD POSITION, KEY REMOVAL IS ALLOWED. ACCORDING TO MITSUBISHI, THE IGNITION KEY INTERLOCK CABLE MAY ALLOW THE INTERLOCK LEVER TO FALL FORWARD DURING VEHICLE USE. IN THIS STATE THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE GEARSHIFT MECHANISM IS NOT IN THE PARK POSITION. IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SHIFT TO PARK BEFORE REMOVING THE KEY AND FAILS TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR. MOST OF THE REPORTED CRASH INCIDENTS WERE MINOR IN NATURE INVOLVING UNOCCUPIED VEHICLES ROLLING FROM A PARKED CONDITION AND STRIKING OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS. THE SINGLE INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN THE OPERATOR PARKED THE VEHICLE, EXITED, AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY STRUCK BY THE VEHICLE AS IT ROLLED AWAY. THE TYPE AND SEVERITY OF THE INJURIES WERE NOT DESCRIBED. IN A LETTER DATED MARCH 21, 2008, MITSUBISHI ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION (SEE WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV, RECALL ACTION 08V-139 FOR FURTHER DETAILS); REMEDY DETAILS AND TIMING ARE TO BE DETERMINED. ACCORDINGLY THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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.