NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE97009
Preliminary Evaluation · Chrysler (FCA US, 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
LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILURE
THE MANUFACTURER IDENTIFED VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS OF THE SUBJECT BALL JOINT FAILURES AS TABULATED ABOVE.IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 72 WARRANTY REPORTS WERE IDENTIFIED FOR REPLACEMENT OF BROKEN OR CRACKED BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.CHRYSLER ALSO REPORTED THAT 1996 AND 1997 MODELS ARE EQUIPPED WITH IDENTICAL BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES AS THE SUBJECT 1995 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES.A PARTIAL RESPONSE TO NHTSA'S INFORMATION REQUEST INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S ANALYSES AND EVALUATIONS OF THE CONDITION WERE CONTINUING.IN ORDER TO CONTINUE NHTSA'S COMPLETE ASSESSMENT OF THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF THIS MATTER, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
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
- PE97009
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Component
- SUSPENSION
- Opened
- Mar 13, 1997
- Closed
- Sep 29, 1997
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
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.