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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE86053

Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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 1, 1986
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Jan 20, 1987
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

INADEQUATE REAR BRAKES

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:NO TSB'S OR RECALLS HAVE BEENISSUED ON THIS MATTER.THE 1985 CAMIP PHASE II SURVEY RATED THE GM M-VANBRAKE EFFECTIVENESS LOWEST AMONG VEHICLE LINES TESTED.IN RESPONSE TO THECONCERN OF VAN OWNERS, CHANGES IN THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER DIAMETER AND THEPROPORTIONING VALVE WERE PLANNED FOR THE 1987 MODEL M-VANS.ANALYSIS:THE PROPOSED MANUFACTURER CHANGES WILL REDUCE THE FRONT-BIAS OFTHE BRAKE SYSTEM.HOWEVER, THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT GM WILL RETROFITTHE 1985 AND 1986 MODELS.OVER THE NINE MONTHS SINCE THE PE WAS OPENED,THE NUMBER OF ODI REPORTS HAS INCREASED BY 300%.THESE REPORTS INDICATETHAT THE PROBLEM MAY NOT BE AN OVERLY FRONT-BIASED BRAKING SYSTEM, BUTTED M-VAN'SBRAKE ADJUSTER WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY, ALLOWING THE LEFT REAR WHEEL TOROTATE, EVEN WITH 200 POUNDS APPLIED PEDAL FORCE.THE VEHICLE DID PASSMODIFIED COMPLIANCE TESTS FOR BRAKE STOPPING DISTANCES.PROPOSED ACTION:TO UPGRADE THIS TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===

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
PE86053
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Opened
May 1, 1986
Closed
Jan 20, 1987
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.