RoadVitals

NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE87056

Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · SUSPENSION

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.
40
10 models
Opened
Sep 8, 1987
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Nov 6, 1987
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILURE

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:MANUFACTURER IS IN RECEIPT OFONE COMPLAINT AND FIVE FIELD REPORTS.PRODUCT REPORT ANALYSIS STATES THELOWER CONTROL ARM FROM WAGGONER CORPORATION APPEARS TO HAVE A SMALL RADIUSAT THE TRANSITION OF THE SIDE WALL TO THE BALL STUD NOSE.CURRENT STAMPINGSOURCE, S.K.D., ALSO HAS A SMALL RADIUS IN THE SAME AREA.S.K.D. HASCHANGED THE TRIM TO INCREASE THE RADIUS TO 1 INCH AND PROVIDE ADDITIONALSTRENGTH IN THE BALL STUD AREA.ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES 38 OF 40 FAILURES INVOLVE THE LEFT CONTROL ARM,39 OF THE VEHICLES ARE POWERED BY THE DIESEL ENGINE.ALL FAILURES HAVEOCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS, OR HAVE BEEN LOCATED DURING INCREASED FREQUENCYMAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS.SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT FROM THE CONTROLARM COULD CAUSE ONE SIDE OF THE FRONT WHEEL SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE,POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.===

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
PE87056
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
SUSPENSION
Opened
Sep 8, 1987
Closed
Nov 6, 1987
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

40 model years across 10 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.