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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE87037

Preliminary Evaluation · Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) · 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.
18
2 models
Opened
Jul 1, 1987
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Nov 3, 1987
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

PITMAN ARM FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:BOTH CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHIINDEPENDENTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO SEVERE IMPACT LOADINGTRANSMITTED TO THE SHAFT BY THE STEERING LINKAGE SYSTEM -- IN OTHER WORDSSHAFT FAILURE IS THE RESULT, NOT THE CAUSE, OF THE ALLEGED COLLISIONCIRCUMSTANCES.MITSUBISHI DID STRENGTHEN THE SHAFT DURING THE 1984 MODELYEAR BY INCREASING THE SPLINE AND BEARING JOURNAL DIAMETERS.ANALYSIS:FAILING COMPONENT IS THE STEERING BOX CROSS SHAFT (OUTPUT SHAFT)WHICH BREAKS BETWEEN THE BOTTOM BEARING IN THE STEERING BOX AND THE PITMANARM.KNOWN FAILURES INVOLVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNITS EQUIPPED WITH POWERSTEERING.CROSS SHAFT AND PITMAN ARM SALES ARE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER ON 4WHEEL DRIVE UNITS THAN 2 WHEEL DRIVE UNITS.CHRYSLER REPORTS THE CROSSSHAFT DIAMETER WAS INCREASED IN APRIL, 1984, FOR INCREASED SHAFT STRENGTHTO IMPROVE ITS CAPABILITY TO WITHSTAND SEVERE IMPACT LOADS.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.CONTACT MITSUBISHI FORINFORMATION ON COMPARABLE VEHICLES.===

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
PE87037
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component
STEERING
Opened
Jul 1, 1987
Closed
Nov 3, 1987
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

18 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.