All Investigations » Investigation PE05056

  Defect Investigation of Steering Wheel And Shaft Bolts

Investigation of Steering Wheel And Shaft Bolts

Subject: Steering wheel and shaft bolts
Components covered:
  • Steering
  • Steering: steering wheel and handle bar
  • Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
  • Steering column
  • Steering linkages
  • Steering wheel and handle bar
Investigations Summary: This investigation was opened on Oct. 26, 2005. It was closed on Mar. 9, 2006. On October 26, 2005 odi opened pe05-056 to investigate allegations of loose or missing steering wheel or steering shaft coupling bolts in model year (my) 2004 and 2005 Dodge durango sport utility vehicles and my 2005 Dodge dakota pickup trucks manufactured by daimlerchrysler corporation (dcc). During pe05-056 odi identified 3 owner complaints to odi or dcc, 21 field reports to dcc and 142 warranty claims related to the alleged defect conditions. The reports and claims included 8 incidents of either steering wheel separation or steering shaft decoupling while driving due to loose or missing bolts. One of the failures resulted in a crash. Pe05-056 has been upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea06-004) to continue to investigate the scope, frequency and safety consequences of the alleged defect.
Vehicles Affected by this investigation:
  • 2005 Dodge Dakota
  • 2004 Dodge Durango
  • 2005 Dodge Durango

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