Investigations
INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE98009 - closed, opened 1998-02-13.
NHTSA investigation PE98009 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1998-02-13 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1998-06-30 - 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 PE98009 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: "THREE CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TWO FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. IN ONE CASE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, AND THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED WHEN THE OT..." 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
THREE CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TWO FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. IN ONE CASE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, AND THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED WHEN THE OTHER TWO FAILURES OCCURRED. NO CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED. TORSION BAR FAILURES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE FAIRLY UNCOMMON AND IN EACH OF THE REPORTED CASES, THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGES. THE FAILURES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED IN A COMMON LOCATION, APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE CONTROL ARM. A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THESE FAILURES.
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.