Investigations
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87018 - closed, opened 1987-02-03.
NHTSA investigation PE87018 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-02-03 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-07-06 - 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 PE87018 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: "ANALYSIS: THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH THECHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI 1.4L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MOST OF THEINCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS SHIFTINGFROM PAR..." 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
ANALYSIS: THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH THECHRYSLER-MITSUBISHI 1.4L ENGINE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. MOST OF THEINCIDENTS OCCURRED DURING LOW SPEED DRIVING MANEUVERS, SUCH AS SHIFTINGFROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. AUTOMOTIVE MECHANICS AND INSURANCE COMPANYREPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY ANY VEHICLE DEFECTS. NONE OFTHE REPORTED INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND COULD BE CONSIDEREDTO BE MINOR IN NATURE. WITH MANY OF THE VEHICLES REPORTING A MILEAGE OFLESS THAN 5000 MILES AND WITH 2 OF THE REPORTED VEHICLES BEING RENTALUNITS, DRIVER FAMILIARITY COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER: NO SERVICE BULLETINS ORSAFETY RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED WITH RESPECT TO THE ALLEGED PROBLEM.CHRYSLER'S LETTER OF MARCH 20, 1987, STATED "CHRYSLER'S TECHNICALEVALUATION AND VEHICLE INSPECTION EFFORTS HAVE NOT DETERMINED ANY VEHICLEDEFECT CONDITION WHICH MAY BE A CASUAL OR CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THEALLEGATIONS OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES."PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.===
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.