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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE03019

Preliminary Evaluation · Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

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.
4
2 models
Opened
May 15, 2003
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Sep 17, 2003
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

STEERING WHEEL HEATER OVERHEATS

THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON FOUR ODI COMPLAINTS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL OVERHEATS. VW HAS SHOWN THAT MOISTURE AND PRESPIRATION PERMEATE THE STEERING WHEEL COVER CAUSING THE HEATING ELEMENT TO CORRODE.THIS CORROSION MAY CAUSE A SMALL, LOCALIZED AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO EXPERIENCE A BRIEF DURATION OF OVERHEATING.THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL SUSTAINING COMBUSTION. THE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO OCCURRENCES OF SEVERE BURNING AND NO CONSUMERS REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.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
PE03019
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Component
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Opened
May 15, 2003
Closed
Sep 17, 2003
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

4 model years across 2 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.