NHTSA Investigation PE87030

STEERING BINDING

BASED ON AN ODI FAILURE REPORT ANALYSIS SHOWING 6 COMPLAINTS, 4 ACCIDENTSAND 3 INUJURIES, A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION WAS OPENED AND AN INFORMATIONREQUEST WAS SENT TO FORD.SUBSEQUENTLY, ODI RECEIVED 4 ADDITIONAL COM-PLAINTS.FURTHER INFORMATION WAS DEVELOPED WHICH LED TO DELETION OF 4COMPLAINTS AND THE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES.IN ONE OF THE ACCIDENTS, THEPOLICE REPORT CITED THE DRIVER FOR INATTENTION TO DRIVING AND IN ANOTHERTHE POLICE REPORT CITED THE DRIVER FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY.IN THETHIRD REPORT IT WAS NOTED THAT THE ALLEGATION WAS FOR STEERING SEPARATIONAND NOT BINDING.TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE EVALUATED AS NOT BEING RELATEDTO THE STEERING BINDING WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS INQUIRY.FORD'S RESPONSE TO THE INFORMATION REQUEST DISCLOSED THAT THE COMPANY HADBEEN AWARE OF A CONDITION DESCRIBED AS TEMPORARY LOSS OF ASSISTANCE(TLA) IN STEERING IN EARLY PRODUCTION OF THE TAURUS/SABLE NAMEPLATES.SIGNIFICANTLY, FORD FIELD REPRESENTATIVES SENT 167 REPORTS TO FORD'S===

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.