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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation EA06005

Engineering Analysis · Porsche Cars North America, Inc. · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE

ClosedEngineering Analysis

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.
11
3 models
Opened
Mar 15, 2006
Engineering Analysis
Closed
Mar 12, 2007
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATION

PORSCHE IS INITIATING A CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION ACTION TO ADDRESS A CONDITION RELATED TO A FAULTY OR LOOSE CONNECTOR IN THE SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM.PORSCHE'S TESTING HAS SHOWN THAT THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL NOT PREVENT SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.THE FAULTY CONNECTOR WILL CAUSE THE CIRCUIT RESISTANCE TO EXCEED THE THRESHOLD FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT.PORSCHE HAS REPORTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR ILLUMINATION OF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT AND MANY VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SERVICED TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN THE CAYENNE TECHNICAL INFORMATION BULLETIN: GROUP 6, #11/04 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED.PORSCHE WILL PERFORM THIS SERVICE TO ALL REMAINING UNCORRECTED VEHICLES UNDER A NEW PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN STARTING AT THE END OF APRIL 2007.ALL OWNERS OF A SUBJECT VEHICLE BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2004 WILL BE NOTIFIED BY PORSCHE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO RECEIVE THE FREE MODIFICATION.VEHICLES BUILT AFTER NOVEMBER 2004 DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT CONNECTOR.IN ADDITION, PORSCHE REPORTS THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF VEHICLES BUILT IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2003, MAY CONTAIN AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED SIDE AIRBAG MODULE.THIS MAY ALSO PRODUCEILLUMINATION OF THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WOULD BECOME EVIDENT SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PUT INTO SERVICE.WARRANTY DATA INDICATES THAT THESE MODULES HAVE BEEN CORRECTED AND NO LONGER PRESENT A RISK.PORSCHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORT OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG.THE ACTION TAKEN BY PORSCHE IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

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
EA06005
Investigation type
Engineering Analysis (EA)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Porsche Cars North America, Inc.
Component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
Opened
Mar 15, 2006
Closed
Mar 12, 2007
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

11 model years across 3 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.