NHTSA Investigation PE09044

Interior Door Handle Laceration Risk

The statistical data regarding problem experience in the table above are net counts for unique vehicles.Review of information in this PE discloses that while accounting for approximately two-thirds of the total population, MY 2007 subject vehicles are cited in more than 90 percent of the consumer complaints, injury reports, and warranty claims, respectively.In addition, improvements in the door handle manufacturing process during the MY 2007 production resulted in a decline in the occurrence of peeling/flaking of the thin chrome plating.Other environmental factors were also identified that may have influenced the occurrence of the condition which poses the alleged safety risk.Additional analysis is required to identify the specific vehicles most susceptible to peeling or separation of the chrome plating from the handle, and to assess the significance of its occurrence.This PE has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis to facilitate further study.

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.