NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA01009
Engineering Analysis · Ford Motor Company · STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
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.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
SECTOR SHAFT FRACTURES
THIS EA WAS OPENED BASED ON A RESPONSE RECEIVED FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) SUBMITTED DURING SQ00-018.FORD STATED IN AN INTERNAL SERVICE MESSAGE THAT IT HAD CHANGED THE STEERING GEAR SECTOR SHAFTS AND PITMAN ARMS INSTALLED 1999 MODEL YEAR F-SERIES SUPER DUTY VEHICLES ON MARCH 22, 1999.FORD STATED THAT THESE DESIGN CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLE STEERING AND HANDLING, AND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE REPORTED FRACTURED SECTOR SHAFTS WERE THE RESULT OF EXTRAORDINARY, POSSIBLY MULTIPLE, IMPACTS.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS ATTACHED.
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
- EA01009
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN
- Opened
- Mar 2, 2001
- Closed
- Aug 19, 2003
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
14 model years across 5 models
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.