NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE96001
Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · SUSPENSION
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
REAR WHEEL SEPARATION
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM GM INDICATES THAT FURTHER INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS WARRANTED.IN GM'S RESPONSE DATED APRIL 26, 1996, GM STATED THAT:GM HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHIH MAY CONTRIBUTE TO WHEEL SEPARATION.INVESTIGATION AS TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF WHEEL SEPARATIONS IS CONTINUING.THE RESULTS OF THESE FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO ASSESS THE PROBABILITY OF ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS . . .
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
- PE96001
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- SUSPENSION
- Opened
- Jan 4, 1996
- Closed
- May 31, 1996
- Associated recall campaign
- 96V245000
Vehicles named in this investigation
2 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.