Investigations
HIGH SPEED STALLING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87048 — closed, opened 1987-08-19 and involving the JEEP CHEROKEE.
NHTSA investigation PE87048 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1987-08-19 and currently closed. The subject of record is JEEP CHEROKEE, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for JEEP. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-03-10 — 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 PE87048 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: THE FUEL INJECTED 6 CYLINDER (242 CID) IN-LINE ENGINE IS APPARENTLY NEW TO THE INSTALLATION INTO THE JEEP CHEROKEE.ANALYSIS: THE FUEL INJECTED ENGINE ALLEGEDLY STALLS WHILE THE V..." 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 JEEP 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: THE FUEL INJECTED 6 CYLINDER (242 CID) IN-LINE ENGINE IS APPARENTLY NEW TO THE INSTALLATION INTO THE JEEP CHEROKEE.ANALYSIS: THE FUEL INJECTED ENGINE ALLEGEDLY STALLS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (35-55MPH). TWO FAILURE MODES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, STALLING WHEN CORNERING OR GOING OVER A BUMP AND THE OTHER IS ENGINE STALL WHILE CRUISING--USUALLY IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE SITUATIONS. JEEP HAS IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET FIT TO THE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH AFFECTS THE HIGH TEMPERATURE PERFORMANCE OF THE CPS (CRANK POSITION SENSOR/ENGINE SPEED SENSOR) MODULE. CHRYSLER/JEEP HAS A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE PROBLEM.STATUS: CRECOMMEND CLOSING THIS PE AND CONTINUING THE ANALYSIS IN AN EA. #===
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 JEEP Investigations
Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Failure
Underhood fires
Loss of Motive Power
False overheat leading to loss of motive power
Electronic Parking Brake Water Ingress
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.