Investigations
REAR AXLE SHAFT SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE95049 - closed, opened 1995-08-17.
NHTSA investigation PE95049 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1995-08-17 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1996-01-26 - 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 PE95049 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: "THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE MODE AND THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY POSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE SEPARATIONS. THE REAR AXLE SHAFT AND HOUSING DESIGN IS TYPICAL OF THOSE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT..." 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
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE THE FAILURE MODE AND THE RISK TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY POSED BY ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE SEPARATIONS. THE REAR AXLE SHAFT AND HOUSING DESIGN IS TYPICAL OF THOSE IN WHICH THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE IS CARRIED ON THE AXLE HOUSING. THE LEFT AND RIGHT AXLE SHAFTS, SUPPORTED BY ROLLER BEARINGS, ARE SITUATED INSIDE THE AXLE HOUSING. THE INBOARD SPLINED END OF THE AXLE SHAFT RECEIVES POWER TRANSMITTED FROM THE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY, PROVIDING TORQUE TO THE REAR WHEELS. THE ALLEGATIONS ARE THAT THE AXLE SHAFT FAILS, RESULTING IN THE SEPARATION OF A WHEEL AND AXLE HUB ASSEMBLY OR THE ENTIRE AXLE SHAFT AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY, DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE AXLE SHAFT FAILURE. AS IDENTIFIED BY CHRYSLER, THE SUBJECT REAR AXLES ARE DANA 35C AND 35CM MODELS, WHICH HAVE BEEN USED ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SINCE THE 1990 MODEL YEAR. A SAFETY DEFECT TREND WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT AXLE SHAFTS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. SEE HARD COPY RESUME FOR FULL TEXT OF SUMMARY.
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.