NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE98009
Preliminary Evaluation · Ford Motor Company · 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
INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR
THREE CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TWO FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ONE CASE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, AND THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED WHEN THE OTHER TWO FAILURES OCCURRED.NO CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.TORSION BAR FAILURES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE FAIRLY UNCOMMON AND IN EACH OF THE REPORTED CASES, THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGES.THE FAILURES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED IN A COMMON LOCATION, APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE CONTROL ARM.A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THESE FAILURES.
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
- PE98009
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- SUSPENSION
- Opened
- Feb 13, 1998
- Closed
- Jun 30, 1998
- 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.