I don’t care what you drive; HONDA, TOYOTA, MAZDA, KIA, according to the latest list on the NHTSA website, almost every auto make or model seems to have a defect investigation complaint pending.
After all the huffing and puffing over Toyota’s unintended acceleration and brake failures, Congress put the heat on NHTSA for what many felt was a “hear no evil, speak no evil” attitude towards the worlds number 1 automaker.
While NHTSA may have been slow to accelerate their own dutiful inquiry, the public has become increasingly suspicious of all car makers, and with their distrust comes concern about the way their vehicle could leave them stranded or worse, fatally injured.
Here is the most recent list of cars, the complaints and the status of the NHTSA investigation into such complaints.
Note the key is REALLY important when (RQ, DP and RP) on the front of the article tracking number denotes a RECALL PETITION has been enacted. How long it will take NHTSA to actually get the manufacturer to RECALL the CARS in question is another story.
ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA) are resolved within one year.EAsSecond and final phase of a NHTSA investigation, an EA is undertaken if data from a PE indicate further examination of a potential safety defect is warranted. The results of an EA determine whether a safety recall should be initiated or the investigation should be closed.PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) are resolved within four months.PEs Initial phase of a NHTSA investigation, a PE is prompted after a review of consumer complaints and/or manufacturer service bulletins suggest a safety defect may exist. The results of a PE determine whether the investigation will be upgraded to an Engineering Analysis or closed.
RECALL QUERY (RQ) NHTSA monitors recalls to ensure that the scope, completion rate, and remedy are adequate. If recall adequacy comes into question, an RQ is opened to determine if the scope of the recall should be expanded or an adjustment in existing remedies is required.
DEFECT OR RECALL PETITION (DP OR RP) NHTSA may be petitioned to investigate an alleged safety defect or whether a manufacturer has successfully carried out the requirements of a recall. If the petition is granted, NHTSA opens an appropriate investigation. If the petition is denied, the reasons for denial are published in the Federal Register.
HONDA
EA08- 015 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY UNEXPECTED CLOSING OF POWER LIFTGATE 08-AUG-2008
RQ09-004 CERTAIN MY 2001-2002 HONDA CIVIC, ACCORD, AND ACURA TL RUPTURING DRIVER’S AIR BAG INFLATORS 02-NOV-09
EA09-001 2002-03 HONDA ACCORD MODELS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IGNITION PARK-SHIFT INTERLOCK 05-JAN-2009
EA09-014 2007-2008 HONDA ODYSSEY AIR IN BRAKE SYSTEM 19-OCT-2009
FORD
EA08-018 2002-2003 FORD TAURUS AND MERCURY SABLE IN SALT BELT STATES FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE 28-AUG-2008
EA09- MY 2002 – 2005 FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER VEHICLE ROLLAWAY ALLEGATIONS 18-AUG-2009
EA09-016 2004 AND 2005 FORD FREESTAR AND MERCURY MONTEREY TORQUE CONVERTER OUTPUT SHAFT FAILURE 10-NOV-2009
EA10-002 MY2001-2004 FORD ESCAPE AND MAZDA TRIBUTE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE 14-JAN-2010
EA10-001 MY2004-2006 FORD F-150 VEHICLES INADVERTENT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT 13-JAN-2010
PE09-055 1997-2008 E350/450 FORD CAB/CHASSIS HVAC SWITCH FAILURES 07-DEC-2009
DP09-004 2004 FORD FREESTAR ENGINE STALL 04-JUN-2009
CHEVROLET
EA09-002 MODEL YEAR 2005 & 2006 CHEVROLET CORVETTE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL MALFUNCTION 14-JAN-2009
EA09-004 2004-2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU, MALIBU MAXX PARK/TURN/STOP/DRL LAMPS 20-MAR-2009
PE10-005 MY 2005-2009 CHEVROLET COBALT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILURE 27-JAN-2010
PE09-044 2007-2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE/GMC YUKON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE LACERATION HAZARD 14-SEP-2009
INFINITI EA09-005 2003-2005 INFINITI Q45 AND 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 SIDE AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENT 01-APR-2009
MITSUBISHI PE09-056 2004 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR GASOLINE LEAKS 30-DEC-2009
MAZDA PE09-045 MODEL YEAR 2004 – 2006 MAZDA RX8 W/MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS CLUTCH PEDAL BRACKET FAILURE 23-SEP-2009
SAAB PE09-048 2004 SAAB 9-3 SEAT BELT RETRACTOR 30-SEP-2009 25-FEB-2010
EA08-026 MY2003-2006 SAAB 9-3 IN SALT BELT STATES FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTURE 22-DEC-2008
