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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE87016

Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · STEERING

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.
2
2 models
Opened
Jan 15, 1987
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Aug 6, 1987
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

STEERING SYST. FAILURES

ANALYSIS:THIS PE WAS INITIATED BASED ON RECEIPT OF CONSUMER REPORTS OFPOWER STEERING FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS ISSUE WAS ORIGINALLYREVIEWED UNDER PE86-006, WHICH WAS CLOSED AFTER NO DEFECT TREND WAS IDENTI-FIED.THIS PE WAS OPENED TO REASSESS THE MAGNITUDE OF THE ALLEGED PROBLEM.IN RESPONSE TO NHTSA'S REQUEST FOR INFORMATION, FORD REPORTED THE FAILURE(COMPLAINT), ACCIDENT, AND INJURY STATISTICS CITED ABOVE.INCLUDED INTHESE DATA ARE 8 CASES INVOLVING ACCIDENT OR SUBROGATION CLAIMS, AND 7LAWSUITS THAT CITE POWER STEERING PROBLEMS AS THE BASIS FOR THE PLAINTIFF'SCASE AGAINST FORD.IN ADDITION, FORD REPORTED HAVING INITIATED ONLY ONEENGINEERING DESIGN MODIFICATION IN MAY 1983 WHICH RELATES TO THE POTENTIALFOR MALFUNCTION OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP.WARRANTY CLAIM DATA RELATINGTO THIS MATTER FAILED TO EITHER ESTABLISH OR SUBSTANTIATE THE EXISTENCE OFA DEFECT TREND.PROPOSED ACTION:CLOSE THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.===

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
PE87016
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Component
STEERING
Opened
Jan 15, 1987
Closed
Aug 6, 1987
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

2 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.