Investigations
FAILURES DIGITALLY CONTROLLED STEERING
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE96049 - closed, opened 1996-08-01.
NHTSA investigation PE96049 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1996-08-01 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1996-11-29 - 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 PE96049 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: "THE "DS-2000" IS AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR USE BY PHYSICALLY CHALLANGED PERSONS TO STEER A MOTOR VEHICLE. THE DEVICE CONSISTS OF A HANC HELD CONTOL BOX FITTED WITH A SMALL "STEERING WHEEL" THAT IS ABOUT 5 INCHES IN DIAMET..." 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
THE "DS-2000" IS AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR USE BY PHYSICALLY CHALLANGED PERSONS TO STEER A MOTOR VEHICLE. THE DEVICE CONSISTS OF A HANC HELD CONTOL BOX FITTED WITH A SMALL "STEERING WHEEL" THAT IS ABOUT 5 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE COTROL BOX FEEDS ELECTRONIC SIGNALS TO A ONBOARD COMPUTER, WHICH, IN TURN, OPERATES A STEERING SERVO. THE SMALL STEERING WHEEL IS MUCH EASIER TO TURN THANT A CONVENTIONAL STEERING WHEEL, EVEN IF FILLED WITH POWER STEERING. THE OHIO REHABILITATION SERVICE COMMISION FORWARDED A SAFETY DIRECTIVE, THAT WAS SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PURCHASERS OF THE SUBJECT PRODUCT. THE DIRECTIVE WARNED OWNERS TO IMMEDIATELY STOP USING THE DEVICE DUE TO REPORTED MALFUNCTIONS THAT RESULT IN MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
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.