NHTSA Investigation PE87049

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS

SUMMARY OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION:SUBARU CLAIMS IT HAS NO IDENTIFIABLEPROBLEMWITH THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS.HOWEVER, THE 1985 RETRACTOR ISUSED ONLY ON THE 1985 MODEL 4 DOOR AND STATION WAGON.PART SALES FOR THERETRACTOR ARE NEARLY DOUBLE 1984 AND 1986 MODEL RETRACTOR SALES.SIMILARLY15 PART NUMBERS WERE ISSUED FOR THE 1985 RETRACTOR.THE PRIMARY REASONFOR SUBARU TO USE THE 1985 MODEL RETRACTOR OVER THE 1984 MODEL WAS TOIMPROVE SENSITIVITY.THE 1985 RETRACTOR ONLY FITS 1985 MODELS, WHILE BOTHTHE 1984 AND 1986 MODELS FIT NUMEROUS OTHER MODEL YEARS.THE GL STATIONWAGON AND 4 DOOR RETRACTOR IS USED ONLY IN THOSE VEHICLES.ANALYSIS:THE 1985 MODEL RETRACTOR APPEARS TO HAVE A SENSITIVITY PROBLEM.OF THE 8 ODI REPORTS, 6 ARE 1985 MODEL SUBARU STATION WAGONS.THE OTHERREPORTS ARE 1984 MODELS.THESE REPORTS ARE EXTAORDINARILY IMPORTANTBECAUSE A COMPLAINT REQUIRES AN ACCIDENT FIRST, AND THEN EITHER SURVIVAL OROUTSIDE CONCERN TO REPORT TO THE ODI.STATUS: RECOMMEND CLOSING THE PE AND FOCUSING FURTHER IN AN EA ENVIRONMENT.===

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.