RoadVitals

1989 Elgin Whirlwind Ii

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
0
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Elgin Whirlwind Ii. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA89025ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING LOCKUP

Opened Jun 8, 1989
Closed Jan 29, 1990

SUMMARY:THE PE REVEALED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLESCONSISTS OF TWO RIGHT ANGLE GEAR BOXES WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE TWOSTEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLIES IN THE CAB.THE OUTPUT FROM THESE GEAR BOXES ISCONNECTED, VIA U JOINT FITTED CROSS SHAFTS, TO A THREE WAY RIGHT ANGLE GEARBOX WHICH RECEIVES INPUT FROM EITHER STEERING WHEEL AND OPERATES THESTEERING BOX ON THE CHASSIS.ANALYSIS BY THE CHASSIS MANUFACTURER (GM)INDICATES PROBABLE CAUSE OF HARD STEERING AND COMPONENT FAILURE ISEXCESSIVE SIDE THRUST LOADS IN THE CHASSIS GEAR BOX.PROBABLE CAUSE ISMISALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE THREE WAY GEAR BOX AND THE CHASSIS GEAR BOX.ELGIN HAS MODIFIED AT LEAST 12 UNITS IN THE FIELD WITH A DUAL U JOINTARRANGEMENT WHICH REDUCES THE NEED FOR A PERFECT SHAFT ALIGNMENT BETWEENTHE BOXES.ALTHOUGH NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED, THE HIGH FAILURE RATEINDICATES FURTHER ANALYSIS IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE IF MODIFICATION OF THEREMAINING UNITS IS NECESSARY.===

STEERING
PE89120ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING LOCKUP

Opened Apr 27, 1989
Closed Jun 8, 1989

SUMMARY:FORMER ELGIN DESIGN ENGINEER REPORTS MISAPPLICATION OF THESTEERING BOX ON THE SUBJECT SWEEPERS RESULTS IN STEERING LOCKUP.HE ALLEGES TWO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED.A REPAIR CAMPAIGN WAS PERFORMEDON THE FLEET BELONGING TO THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.NONE OF THE OTHER UNITSSOLD THROUGHOUT THE NATION HAVE BEEN REPAIRED, NOR HAVE THEIR OWNERSBEEN NOTIFIED.===

STEERING

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0703094A

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

FSO 1081999 3-AMP WATER DIODE KIT TO ELIMINATE BACK FEED FROM HIGH PRESSURE WASH-DOWN PUMP, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE CENTER-BROOM TO LOWER WHEN THE HIGH PRESSURE WASH-DOWN SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. ELGIN. *TT

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Elgin Whirlwind Ii by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1989Viewing002—
1988002—
1987002—
1986002—
1985002—
1984002—
1983001—
1982001—
1981001—
1980001—
1979001—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.