Investigations
BRAKE DISC/HUB SEPARATION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE96053 — closed, opened 1996-09-05 and involving the DODGE DODGE.
NHTSA investigation PE96053 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1996-09-05 and currently closed. The subject of record is DODGE DODGE, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for DODGE. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1997-01-13 — 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 PE96053 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: "ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF NINETEEN (19) COMPLAINTS OF SEPARATED BRAKE ROTORS ON 1989-91 DODGE MONACO/EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES, 1990-92 JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES, AND 1993 GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE MANUFACT..." 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. Related DODGE files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
ODI HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OF NINETEEN (19) COMPLAINTS OF SEPARATED BRAKE ROTORS ON 1989-91 DODGE MONACO/EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES, 1990-92 JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES, AND 1993 GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES ARE MANUFACTURER WITH TWO-PIECE ROTORS THAT HAVE A STAMPED STEEL HUB PROVIDING ATTACHMENT TO THE SPINDLE, CAPTURED IN A CAST IRON OUTER DISC WHICH IS THE FRICTION SURFACE OF THE BRAKE. THE COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT CORROSION RESULTS IN THE SEPARATION OF THE HUB FROM THE DISC. WHEN THIS SEPARATION OCCURS, THE DISC IS UNABLE TO TRANSFER BRAKING TORQUE TO THE HUB AND SUBSEQUENTLY TOT HE WHEELS, AND RESULTS IN REDUCED VEHICLE BRAKING CAPABILITY AND MOMENTARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES ARE TYPICALLY OPERATED IN CERTAIN MIDWESTERN AND NORTHEASTERN STATES, WHERE THE USE OF ROAD SALT MAY BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE CORROSION OF THE BRAKE ROTORS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST (IR), CHRYSLER REPORTED THAT A RUST INHIBITOR WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE ROTORS FOR 1992 AND LATER MODEL YEARS JEEP CHEROKEE VEHICLES AND DODGE MONACE/EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES. HOWEVER, ODI HAS RECENTLY RECEIVED ONE NEW REPORT ON A 1992 JEEP CHEROKEE AND FOUR NEW REPORTS OF SEPARATED ROTORS ON 1993 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES. ODI BELIEVES THAT AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ON 1989-1991 DODGE MONACO/EAGLE PREMIER VEHICLES AND 1990-1993 JEEP CHEROKEE/GRAND CHEROKEE VEHICLES IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE BRAKE ROTOR SEPARATION PROBLEM.
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.
Other DODGE Investigations
Vehicle entrapment
Back up camera failure
Vehicle entrapment
Active Head Rest Inadvertent Deployment
Chrysler's execution of 13V-528 & 529
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. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.