NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA10-006: Engine Stall
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA10-006 on August 18, 2010 and closed it on September 16, 2010. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 models from 2 makes for it and links recalls 10V-384 and 10V-387 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA10-006 (also written EA10006)
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
- Status
- Closed September 16, 2010
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturers
- Toyota Motor Corporation; General Motors, LLC
- Component
- Engine and Engine Cooling
- Vehicles and equipment
- 3 models from 2 makes, including the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Corolla
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA10-006.
On August 26, 2010, Toyota submitted a Defect Information Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding problems with Engine Control Modules that could result in engine stall while driving in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2008 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive and manufactured between April 19, 2004 and January 2, 2008.
Toyota's report indicated that cracks may develop at certain solder point or on varistors on the ECMs.
According to Toyota, such cracks generally resulted in engine warning lamp illumination, harsh shifting or engine no-start.
In some cases, if the cracking occurs on particular solder points or varistors, the engine could stop while the vehicle is being driven.
Toyota will notify owners of subject vehicles that they should return their vehicles to a Toyota or Pontiac dealer.
Dealers will be instructed to inspect the production number of the ECM for each vehicle and replace the ECM if necessary.
On November 30, 2009, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE09-054) to investigate alleged engine stall while driving in model year (MY) 2006 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles.
In its response to ODI's information request, submitted on March 2, 2010, Toyota indicated that it had identified two possible conditions with ECMs used in MY 2005 through 2007 Toyota Corolla and Matrix vehicles:1) cracks forming between the IC and the board caused by an improperly cured conformal coating applied to the circuit boards after the soldering process is completed; and 2) cracks occurring in a variable resistor (varistor) due to overheating.
During the manufacturing process a glass coating is created on the surface of the varistor.
Between March and August 2010, Toyota began collecting ECMs from the field to further investigate failure modes that may result in engine stall.
Toyota also conducted durability testing on ECMs collected from in-use vehicles to assess whether the problems may be a continuing trend. In addition, they conducted durability testing in order to assess whether this problem was a continuing trend.
Toyota found that 4 of 32 collected ECMs malfunctioned after thermal shock testing.
Toyota also confirmed that cracking could develop at solder points on the ECM circuit board that could lead to engine stall while driving and that this trend was likely to continue.
The manufacturer failure data in this resume is limited to MY 2005 through 2007 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles.
Based on Toyota's recall, this Engineering analysis has been closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA10-006. 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.
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.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for EA10-006
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.