NHTSA Investigation PE96044

ALLEGED FUEL TANK LEAKAGE

IN 1994, CHRYSLER INTRODUCTED A PLASTIC FUEL TANK, THAT WAS SHAPED DIFFERENTLY FROM THE METAL TANK IT REPLACED.DUE TO THE DIFFERENT SHAPE OF THE NEW TANK,GLAVAL HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH SCREWS, THAT IT INSTALLS, RUPTURING THE FUEL TANK.THIS PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED DURING EARLY PRODUCTION AND GLAVAL CORRECTED THE SUBJECT UNITS PRIOR TO SHIPPING.GLAVAL ALSO DESIGNED A NEW TEMPLATE TO CORRECTLY LOCATE THE SCREWS TO MISS THE NEW STYLE TANK.EVIDENTLY A FEW EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES WERE NOT CAUGHT OR HAD SCREWS INSTALLED WITH THE WRONG TEMPLATE.ALL BUT ONE OF THESE VEHICLES WERE REPORTED AND CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY IN 1994.ONLY ONE REPORT HAS BEEN RECEIVED SINCE 1994.NO. CRASH OR FIRE OCCURRED AND GLAVAL PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF THIS SINGLE UNIT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

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.