Investigations
LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE
NHTSA SQ SQ97014 — closed, opened 1997-05-10 and involving the MAZDA MAZDA.
NHTSA investigation SQ97014 is a SQ opened on 1997-05-10 and currently closed. The subject of record is MAZDA MAZDA, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for MAZDA. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1997-05-13 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "MOOG PURPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. MAZDA MADE A MID-YEAR STEERING SPINDLE CHANGE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. THE NEW SPINDLE DESIGNS ACCOMMODATES A BALL JOINT WITH A LARGER "PINCH BOLT"..." 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 MAZDA files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
MOOG PURPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY. MAZDA MADE A MID-YEAR STEERING SPINDLE CHANGE ON CERTAIN VEHICLES. THE NEW SPINDLE DESIGNS ACCOMMODATES A BALL JOINT WITH A LARGER "PINCH BOLT" STYLE STUD. MOOG CONDUCTED LAB TEST AND CONCLUDED THAT EVEN WHEN THE PINCH BOLTS ARE TORQUED AT DOUBLE THE TORQUE VALUE THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY FELL FREELY FROM THE SPINDLE ASSEMBLY. THE TWO COPLAINTS WERE FROM TECHNICIANS WHO CONTACTED MOOGS' TECH-LINE TO INFORM THEM OF THIS DISCOVERY. FURTHERMORE, DUE TO THE DIFFERENCES IN THE DIAMETER ( THE STUD BEING 2MM SMALLER THEN THE SPINDLE ORFICE) THE FIT WOULD BE TOO LOOSE FOR FINAL ASSEMBLY. ADDITIONAL TESTING WAS CONDUCTED BY MOOG AND AT NO TIME DID THE SPINDLE CLAMP THE BALL JOINT STUD. A SAFETY DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES OT APPEAR WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXITS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION WHEN APPROPRIATE.
About This Investigation Type
Other MAZDA Investigations
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Front Subframe Corrosion
Lower ball joint separation
Brake Booster Failure
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.