NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA86021
Engineering Analysis · General Motors, LLC · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
SUMMARY: AMONG 135 COMPLAINTS, 122 FIRES OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. POSSIBLECAUSES INCLUDE 13 DUE TO COOLANT LEAKS, 16 FROM FUEL LEAKS, 8 CAUSED BYBATTERY CABLE RUBBING ON ENGINE BLOCK,26 DUE TO OIL LEAKS RESULTINGFROM CONNECTING ROD FAILURE, 12 FROM ELECTRICAL WIRE SHORTS, AND 59 UN-IDENTIFIED.AS OF 12/14/87, 238 FIRE REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.STATUS:TEST REQUEST SENT TO ETF 12/11/86. FIRST IR SENT 8/28/86,RESPONSE DATED 10/30/86. SECOND IR SENT 12/11/86, PARTIAL IR RESPONSEDATED 2/5/87.REMAINDER OF RESPONSE DATED 5/12/87. RECALL REQUESTSENT TO GM ON 9/8/87.GM RESPONDED WITH RECALL 87V-181 ON 11/25/87.NHTSA INTENDS TO INITIATE AN AUDIT OF THIS RECALL IN THE FALL OF 1988.===
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
- EA86021
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Opened
- Jul 18, 1986
- Closed
- May 8, 1990
- Associated recall campaign
- 87V181000
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.