Investigations
UNEXPECTED CLOSING OF POWER LIFTGATE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08026 - closed, opened 2008-04-10.
NHTSA investigation PE08026 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-04-10 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2008-08-08 - 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 PE08026 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 LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE DAMAGED GAS SEALS THAT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY. AT THE COMPLETION OF A POWER-OPEN COMMAND, THE POWER LIFTGATE MAY EITHER CLOSE WITHOUT POWER ACTU..." 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 LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE DAMAGED GAS SEALS THAT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE UNEXPECTEDLY. AT THE COMPLETION OF A POWER-OPEN COMMAND, THE POWER LIFTGATE MAY EITHER CLOSE WITHOUT POWER ACTUATION (I.E., DESCEND UNASSISTED UNDER THE FORCE OF GRAVITY) OR AUTOMATICALLY POWER-CLOSE WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE OPERATOR. SOME OWNERS ARE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF THE UNINTENDED CLOSING OF THE LIFTGATE WHILE UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR. THERE HAVE BEEN TEN REPORTED INJURIES RELATED TO THE ALLEGED PROBLEM ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-015).
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.