Investigations
STEERING SYSTEM RACK AND PINION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE99044 - closed, opened 1999-06-28.
NHTSA investigation PE99044 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 1999-06-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1999-10-29 - 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 PE99044 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: "SINCE OPENING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE), ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS. DURING THE PE IT WAS DETERMINED MULTIPLE FAILURE MODES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER. THE WARRANTY CLAIM RATE IS HIGH FOR A STEERING..." 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
SINCE OPENING THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE), ODI HAS RECEIVED 6 ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS. DURING THE PE IT WAS DETERMINED MULTIPLE FAILURE MODES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS MATTER. THE WARRANTY CLAIM RATE IS HIGH FOR A STEERING SYSTEM CONCERN. THE ISSUES REPORTED INVOLVE PREMATURE WEAR OUT AT THE RACK AND PINION INTERFACE WITH THE INNER TIE ROD END(S), BINDING AND STICKING OF THE STEERING GEAR, CRACKED OR BROKEN TIE ROD ENDS, SHEARED RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY BOLTS, AND WEAR OUT OF THE RACK AND PINION MOUNT BUSHINGS. MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS MENTION STEERING WONDER AND LOOSE STEERING. THREE OF THE MOST RECENT COMPLAINTS ALLEGE A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING DUE TO SHEARED BOLTS. ODI IS UPGRADING THIS PE IN ORDER TO PERFORM A THOROUGH TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE VARIOUS SYSTEM FAILURE ALLEGATIONS AND TO QUANTIFY THE EFFECT THAT THESE FAILURES HAVE ON VEHICLE 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.