Investigations
INSUFFICIENT WELD PENETRAT
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE88018 - closed, opened 1988-01-14.
NHTSA investigation PE88018 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1988-01-14 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1988-01-28 - 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 PE88018 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: ON DECEMBER 7, 1987, CHALMERSSUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT (87E-038) PERTAINING TO INSUFFICIENT WELDPENETRATION OF THE UPPER TORQUE ROD ON THEIR 800 SERIES REAR SUSPENSION.FAILURE OF..." 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
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: ON DECEMBER 7, 1987, CHALMERSSUBMITTED A DEFECT REPORT (87E-038) PERTAINING TO INSUFFICIENT WELDPENETRATION OF THE UPPER TORQUE ROD ON THEIR 800 SERIES REAR SUSPENSION.FAILURE OF A WELD COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE REAR AXLE(S) MOVING OUT OFPOSITION, RESULTING IN LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. SEVEN OEM'S WERENOTIFIED OF THE POTENTIAL DEFECT.ANALYSIS: ONE OF THE OEM'S REFERRED TO ABOVE CONTACTED THE OFFICE OFDEFECTS INVESTIGATION AND REPORTED THAT ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEENDISCOVERED ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED SUSPENSION. ALLEGEDLY THE WELDSFASTENING JOINT ENDS TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED REPLACEMENT TORQUE RODS ALSOHAVE POOR PENETRATION. SEPARATION OF A JOINT END COULD ALLOW MOVEMENT OFTHE REAR AXLE OUT OF POSITION, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THEVEHICLE.PROPOSED ACTION: OPEN A PE. CONTACT THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER AND OBTAININFORMATION ON THE NEW ALLEGATION.===
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.