Investigations
INADEQUATE CAP LUG NUTS
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE89041 - closed, opened 1989-02-15.
NHTSA investigation PE89041 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1989-02-15 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1989-07-05 - 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 PE89041 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: THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CARDINAL, UNCOVERED NO ADDITIONALCOMPLAINTS REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH LUG NUTS. FURTHER, MANY OF THE MAGWHEELS USED IN THEIR CONVERSIONS HAVE STEEL INSERTS WHICH PERMITS THE USEOF STA..." 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: THE INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM CARDINAL, UNCOVERED NO ADDITIONALCOMPLAINTS REGARDING PROBLEMS WITH LUG NUTS. FURTHER, MANY OF THE MAGWHEELS USED IN THEIR CONVERSIONS HAVE STEEL INSERTS WHICH PERMITS THE USEOF STANDARD CONICAL LUG NUTS. CARDINAL, LIKE OTHER CONVERSIONS COMPANIES,USES A CHECK LIST TO INSURE THE INCLUSION OF ALL NECESSARY PARTS. INADDITION, A WARNING LABEL IS AFFIXED TO THE OUTSIDE COVER OF THE OWNERSMANUAL AND ON THE JACK, WHICH STATES DO NOT USE THE MAG WHEEL LUG NUTSWITH THE SPARE TIRE. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND.===
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.