NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE96073
Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · STEERING
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
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST
STEERING LOCKUP DUE TO A LOSS OF, OR SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN, POWER STEERING ASSIST IS ALLEGED TO POSSIBLY RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IN ONE INSTANCE,A PERMANENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST RESULTED IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A CRASH.
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
- PE96073
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- STEERING
- Opened
- Dec 5, 1996
- Closed
- May 7, 1997
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
1 model year across 1 model
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.