NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA88014
Engineering Analysis · Subaru of America, Inc. · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILS
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ISPECULIAR TO 1985 GL 4DOOR SEDAN AND STATIONWAGON.INSTALLED TO IMPROVESENSITIVITY AND LIMIT WEBBING MOVEMENT.REPLACED IN PRODUCTION BY NEW UNITTO PROVIDE 'COMMON USAGE WITH OTHER MANUFACTURERS'.PART SALES WERE NEARLYTWICE 1984 AND 1986 MODEL SALES (WHICH FIT OTHER VEHICLES).SOME 15 PARTNUMBERS WERE ISSUED FOR THIS SINGLE YEAR COMPONENT.ANALYSIS:THE 1985 MODEL APPEARS TO HAVE A SENSITIVITY PROBLEM.OF THE 8KNOWN ODI REPORTS ON ALL 1984-1986 SUBARU MODELS, 6 ARE THE 1985 GL STATIONWAGONS, 1 IS A 1984 MODEL GL STATION WAGON, AND THE OTHER IS ANOTHER 1984MODEL.THESE REPORTS ARE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST SINCE THE FILING OF A VOQREQUIRES THAT ONE EXPERIENCE AN ACCIDENT, SURVIVE (OR SOMEONE NOTES THEPOSSIBILE FAILURE), AND THEN NOTIFY THE ODI.STATUS:PREPARE DETAILED IR.===
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
- EA88014
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Subaru of America, Inc.
- Component
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
- Opened
- Jan 13, 1988
- Closed
- Jun 29, 1990
- 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.