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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation DP98007

Defect Petition · Ford Motor Company · SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

ClosedDefect Petition

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA 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.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
1
1 model
Opened
Jul 28, 1998
Defect Petition
Closed
Sep 28, 1998
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

IMPROPER HEIGHT FOR HEAD RESTRAINTS

NHTSA WAS PETITIONED TO COMMENCE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ON JULY 28, 1998.THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEAD RESTRAINT WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH AT ITS HIGHEST POSITION TO PROTECT HIM FROM NECK INJURIES SUSTAINED DURING A REAR IMPACT COLLISION.OTHER THAN THE SUBJECT PETITIN, ODI HAS RECEIVED NO OTHER COMPLAINTS OF INADEQUATE HEAD RESTRAINT HEIGHT FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S COMPLIANCE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MET THE HEAD RESTRAINT HEIGHT REQUIREMENT OF FMVSS NO. 202, HEAD RESTRAINTS. THEREFORE, THE PETITION IS DENIED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
DP98007
Investigation type
Defect Petition (DP)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
Opened
Jul 28, 1998
Closed
Sep 28, 1998
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

1 model year across 1 model

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.