Investigations
FAILURE
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87034 — closed, opened 1987-06-15 and involving the VOLVO VOLVO WHITE.
NHTSA investigation PE87034 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-06-15 and currently closed. The subject of record is VOLVO VOLVO WHITE, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for VOLVO. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1987-08-24 — 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 PE87034 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: "SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: FOUR OEM'S AND ONE STATE AGENCYARE INVOLVED. THE PROBLEM INVOLVES IMPROPER WELDS WHERE THE STEERABLEDRIVE END MOUNTING FLANGE IS ATTACHED TO THE TUBULAR PORTION OF THEHOUSING.ANA..." 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. Related VOLVO files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: FOUR OEM'S AND ONE STATE AGENCYARE INVOLVED. THE PROBLEM INVOLVES IMPROPER WELDS WHERE THE STEERABLEDRIVE END MOUNTING FLANGE IS ATTACHED TO THE TUBULAR PORTION OF THEHOUSING.ANALYSIS: IMPROPER WELDING OF THE STEERABLE DRIVE MOUNTING FLANGE COULDALLOW THE STEERABLE DRIVE END TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN HOUSINGCAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. FOUR OEM'S (MACK,VOLVO WHITE, ADVANCER MIXER, INC. AND TET INC.) WERE USERS OF THE FLAWEDAXLES. IN ADDITION FIVE AXLES WERE SUPPLIED DIRECTLY TO MONTANNA ASREPLACEMENT COMPONENTS.PROPOSED ACTION: CLOSE THIS PE. FABCO IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY SAFETYRECALL. FABCO AND THE OEM'S HAVE SUBMITTED DEFECT REPORTS. (87E-031)===
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.
Other VOLVO Investigations
Discrepancies in Required CFR Reporting
Ride Quality
Windshield Wiper Failures
Volvo Sleeper glass de-bonding
Central Electronic Module Failure
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.