AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT SEPARATION

ODI OPENED THIS PE ON NOVEMBER 1, 1995 BASED ON INFORMATION FROM AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP IN TEXAS. THE SHOP HAD INSTALLED SUBJECT COMPONENTS ON 6 HONDA VEHICLES WHICH SUBSEQUENTLYEXPERIENCED BALL JOINT FAILURES. AL 6 INCIDENT RESULTED IN PROPERTY DAMAGE BUT NO BODILY INJURY. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS GATHERED INFORMATION FROM PERSONNEL AT THE FOLLOEING SOURCES: * AUTO COLLISION INSURANCE COMPAINES *INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS *HONDA FRANCHISED DEALERSHIPS *ITM AUTOMOTIVE PARTS, INC. ACCORDING TO ITM, THE ONLY FAILURE REPORTS THEY HAVE INVOLVE THE FAILURES REPORTED BY THE TEXAS REPAIR SHOP. ITM CLAIMS THE FAILURES ARE DUE TO THAT SHOP'S ALLEGEDLY FAULTY INSTALLATION METHOD. ACCORDING TO ITM, THE SHOP'S "METHOD OF INSTALLATION WAS IMPROPER IN THAT AN INAPPROPRIATE TOOL (A HAMMER) WAS USED.....RATHER THAT THE SPECIAL TOOL REQUIRED BY BOTH THE VEHICLE AND BALL JOINT LANUFACTURERS." ODI HAS FOUND THAT, DESPITE THESE CLAIMS, MANY SHOPS INSTALL THE BALL JOINTS WITH A HAMMER RATHER THAN THE "SPECIAL TOOL," INCLUDING SOME HONDA DEALERS. NONE OF THOSE USING A HAMMER REPORT SUBSEQUENT BALL JOINT FAILURES CONSISTENT WITH THOSE REPORTED BY THE TEXAS REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, ODI HAS FOUND NO DATA ESTABLISHING THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. INDEED, THE ONLY REPORTS FOUND TO DATE HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE TEXAS SHOP. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.