NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE06029
Preliminary Evaluation · Toyota Motor Corporation · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
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
UNEXPECTED LIFTGATE CLOSING
THE LIFTGATE GAS STRUTS FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY HAVE DAMAGED GAS SEALS THAT ALLOW THE LIFTGATE TO DROP UNEXPECTEDLY.THE RATES FOR COMPLAINTS, ALLEGED INJURIES AND WARRANTY CLAIMS ARE HIGHER FOR VEHICLES WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION.THE POWER LIFTGATE MAY AUTOMATICALLY POWER-CLOSE AT THE COMPLETION OF A POWER-OPEN COMMAND WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE OPERATOR.SOME OWNERS ARE CAUGHT UNAWARE OF THE POWER-CLOSE OPERATION WHILE UNDER THE REAR LIFTGATE DOOR.ODI HAS UPGRADED THE INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA06-020) AND MODIFIED THE SCOPE TO INCLUDE ONLY THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WITH THE POWER LIFTGATE OPTION.
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
- PE06029
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Toyota Motor Corporation
- Component
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
- Opened
- Aug 2, 2006
- Closed
- Dec 1, 2006
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
2 model years 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.