NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE06040
Preliminary Evaluation · Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc. · SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
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
AXLE SPINDLE WELD FRACTURE
AXLE SUPPLIER LIPPERT COMPONENTS MANUFACTURED THE SUSPECT AXLES, AND HAS ADVISED ODI THAT LIPPERT HAS INSPECTED AND/OR REPLACED ALL SUSPECT AXLES SOLD TO DUTCHMEN MFG BEFORE ANY SUSPECT AXLES / VEHICLES WERE PLACED INTO SERVICE. DUTCHMEN MFG HAS NOT REPORTED ANY ADDITIONAL FRACTURED AXLE - SPINDLE WELDS SINCE THE INITIAL THREE INCIDENTS THAT WERE THAT WEREREPORTED BETWEEN JUNE 17 AND JUNE 21, 2006.ODI WILL MONITOR DUTCHMEN MFG FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS (UNTIL MAY 2007) FOR ANY AXLE - SPINDLE WELD PERFORMANCE PROBLEMS AND WILL INITIATE FURTHER INVESTIGATION IF ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE REPORTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE 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
- PE06040
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Dutchmen Manufacturing, Inc.
- Component
- SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:NON-POWERED AXLE ASSEMBLY
- Opened
- Sep 12, 2006
- Closed
- Dec 6, 2006
- 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.