Investigations
SUSPENSION BOLT FAILURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE09005 - closed, opened 2009-01-26.
NHTSA investigation PE09005 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2009-01-26 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-06-22 - 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 PE09005 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: "ODI RECEIVED ONE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORT (ODI # 10249600) ALLEGING THAT A BOLT FAILED IN A ROCK KRAWLER SUSPENSION LIFT KIT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED A..." 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
ODI RECEIVED ONE VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORT (ODI # 10249600) ALLEGING THAT A BOLT FAILED IN A ROCK KRAWLER SUSPENSION LIFT KIT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, WHICH CAUSED A COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION AND A VEHICLE DISABLEMENT. NO CRASH OR LOSS OF CONTROL WAS ALLEGED. ROCK KRAWLER SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO ODI REGARDING THE SUBJECT SUSPENSION KIT IN A JUNE 9, 2009 LETTER. THE REPORT INDICATES THAT A DEFECT EXISTED IN CERTAIN SUSPENSION SYSTEM KITS ROCK KRAWLER MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2008 THROUGH OCTOBER 15, 2008. ROCK KRAWLER SOURCES A RETENTION BOLT, WHICH SECURES THE LIFT DEVICE TO THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT, FROM A SECOND TIER HARDWARE SUPPLIER. ACCORDING TO ROCK KRAWLER, THE SUPPLIER INADVERTENTLY PROVIDED A GRADE 2 BOLT INSTEAD OF THE GRADE 5 BOLT SPECIFIED BY ROCK KRAWLER'S ORDER. WHEN THE SECURING BOLT FAILS, THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SUSPENSION MAY LOWER, POSSIBLY RAPIDLY, CAUSING DISABLEMENT AND, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A LOSS OF CONTROL OR CRASH. A TOTAL OF 44 SUSPENSION KITS MAY HAVE CONTAINED THE SUSPECT BOLT. NO CRASHES OR LOSS OF CONTROL HAVE BEEN REPORTED, AND NO INJURIES ARE ALLEGED. AFTER RECEIVING AN INITIAL CONSUMER COMPLAINT IN OCTOBER 2008, ROCK KRAWLER TOOK ACTION TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN INCLUDING POSTING WEB ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SENDING LETTERS TO ITS DISTRIBUTORS. THIS WAS PRIOR TO ODI'S INVOLVEMENT AND ROCK KRAWLER HAS ADVISED THAT NO FURTHER INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED SINCE THAT TIME. ROCK KRAWLER HAS FILED A DEFECT NOTIFICATION AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW, AND ACCORDINGLY THIS 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.