NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Audit Query AQ17-004: Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge Sale Issue
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Audit Query AQ17-004 on August 18, 2017 and closed it on November 23, 2020. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2017 Jeep Compass for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- AQ17-004 (also written AQ17004)
- Investigation type
- Audit Query An administrative investigation into compliance with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting Early Warning data on time or carrying out a recall.
- Status
- Closed November 23, 2020
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Component
- Power Train — Axle Assembly — Axle Shaft
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2017 Jeep Compass
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Audit Query AQ17-004.
NHTSA opened AQ17-004 to determine whether Northwest Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Houston, Texas (Northwest) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and, in turn, that a dealer not sell a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed (49 U.S.C. 30120(i)). NHTSA issued information request letters (IRs) to Northwest and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US LLC (FCA) in August 2017, and again in October 2017 and December 2017. NHTSA's investigation indicated that Northwest sold and delivered at least 310 recalled vehicles that did not have the recall remedy completed at the time the vehicles were delivered to the customers. On August 19, 2020, NHTSA entered into a Settlement Agreement with Northwest and its parent company, Ken Garff Automotive LLC, to resolve the Audit Query. In the agreement, Northwest agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty and Ken Garff agreed to certain training and auditing requirements. The training relates to company policy, procedures, and compliance to prohibit sales of motor vehicles with open recalls and the integration of FCA's recall notifications into the dealership's inventory system.
This Audit Query is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Audit Query AQ17-004. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Jeep
Jeep Compass
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Jeep VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for AQ17-004
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.