NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE86049
Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · SEATS
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
SEAT TRACK LOCK
ANALYSIS:EIGHT (8) OF THE 13 COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE FAILURE OCCURREDPRIOR TO ANY IMPACT/ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT.ONE (1) OF THE FAILURES MAY HAVECAUSED OR AT LEAST INFLUENCED THE DRIVERS INVOLVEMENT IN AN ACCIDENT.THEDRIVER'S SUDDEN TEMPORARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL MAY HAVE RESULTED FROMHIS INABILITY TO APPLY THE BRAKES DUE TO THE SEATS REARWARD MOVEMENT.FOUR (4) OF THE FAILURES ALLEGEDLY OCCURRED DURING AN ACCIDENT/IMPACTSITUATION.BECAUSE THIS FAILURE APPEARS TO OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING AND DUETO THE POSSIBLE MOMENTARY LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL BY THE DRIVER IT ISSUGGESTED THAT FURTHER INFORMATION BE REQUESTED FROM GM ON THIS SUBJECT.PROPOSED ACTION:OPEN A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON THIS SUBJECT.
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
- PE86049
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- SEATS
- Opened
- Apr 24, 1986
- Closed
- Aug 1, 1986
- 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.