NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE88034
Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · POWER TRAIN
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.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
HALFSHAFT FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH EITHER A 2.3 LITER4 CYLINDER ENGINE OR A 2.0 LITER DIESEL ENGINE.THE TRANSAXLE MAY BEEITHER A 5 SPEED MANUAL OR A 3 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THEHALFSHAFT ASSEMBLIES ARE IDENTICAL FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL USE, BUT THERIGHT INTERCONNECTING SHAFT ON A DIESEL EQUIPPED VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ATORSIONAL DAMPER.THE 1987 MODEL VEHICLES (GAS OR DIESEL) DO NOT USE THETORSIONAL DAMPER.THE RIGHT SIDE INTERCONNECTING SHAFT IS LONGER THANTHE LEFT SIDE SHAFT (25 INCHES VERSUS 12 INCHES).MOST OF THE REPORTED FAILURES INVOLVE THE RIGHT HALFSHAFT ASSEMBLY.FAILURE OF THE HALFSHAFT APPEARS TO RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVE WITHOUT ANYLOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. #===
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
- PE88034
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- POWER TRAIN
- Opened
- Mar 18, 1988
- Closed
- Sep 19, 1988
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
6 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.