NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation EA88034
Engineering Analysis · Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
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
SUDDEN ACCELERATION
THE CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY PETITIONED NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTOSUDDEN ACCELERATION ON VARIOUS MERCEDES-BENZ MODELS.THE PETITION WASGRANTED WITH RESPECT TO THE 1986-1987 300E MODEL AND ENGINEERING ANALYSISEA88-003 WAS OPENED COVERING JUST THE 1986 AND 1987 300 E VEHICLES.SUBSEQUENTLY, CFAS REPETITIONED NHTSA TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION TO COVERALL 1984 THROUGH 1987 MERCEDES GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES.DEFECT PETITIONNUMBER DP88-013 WAS THEN ASSIGNED.ON JULY 14, 1988, THE CFAS WAS ADVISEDTHAT PETITION DP88-013 HAD BEEN GRANTED AND THAT A NEW ENGINEERING ANALYSIS(EA88-034) HAD BEEN OPENED.THE PRECEDING PETITIONS AND THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAVE BEEN MERGED INTOEA88-034.===
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
- EA88034
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis (EA)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC
- Component
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
- Opened
- Jul 15, 1988
- Closed
- Jul 31, 1990
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
65 model years across 13 models
- Mercedes-Benz 190
- Mercedes-Benz 220
- Mercedes-Benz 230
- Mercedes-Benz 240
- Mercedes-Benz 250
- Mercedes-Benz 260E
- Mercedes-Benz 280
- Mercedes-Benz 350
- Mercedes-Benz 380
- Mercedes-Benz 420
- Mercedes-Benz 450
- Mercedes-Benz 500
- Mercedes-Benz 560
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.