Investigations
SIDE AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08067 - closed, opened 2008-12-02.
NHTSA investigation PE08067 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-12-02 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-04-01 - 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 PE08067 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 VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT-MOUNTED, SIDE TORSO AIR BAGS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THAT FAULTY SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CONNECTORS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS CAN CA..." 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 VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT-MOUNTED, SIDE TORSO AIR BAGS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THAT FAULTY SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CONNECTORS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS CAN CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT WILL DROP THE INPUT VOLTAGE BELOW THE SPECIFIED RANGE. AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES AND THE AFFECTED SIDE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED. THE RATES OF COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT ISSUE ARE VERY HIGH. FOR EXAMPLE, NISSAN SUBMITTED 4,853 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON 3,551 DISTINCT SUBJECT VEHICLES OUT OF 13,836 TOTAL SUBJECT VEHICLES. ALSO, ANALYSES OF WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE AN INCREASING FAILURE TREND OVER TIME. THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-005) TO FURTHER STUDY 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.
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.