NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA86-003: SIDE DOOR FIRES

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA86-003 on October 28, 1985 and closed it on February 18, 1988. NHTSA's investigations file lists 3 Cadillac models for it and links recall 87V-167 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA86-003 (also written EA86003)
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 February 18, 1988
Opened: October 28, 1985
Closed: February 18, 1988
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Component: Structure
Recall linked by NHTSA: 87V-167 (NHTSA record)
Vehicles and equipment: 3 Cadillac models, including the Deville and Fleetwood

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA86-003.

SUMMARY OF MANUFACTURER INFORMATION:GM HAS DUPLICATED A FIRE USING SALTWATER ON THE DOOR SWITCHES.WATER MAY DROP FROM AN OPEN WINDOW ONTO THESWITCH PANEL ON THE DOOR ARMREST.GM REVIEWING RISK, WILL NOTIFY ODIBY LATE SEPT ON POSSIBLE FUTURE GM ACTION.ANALYSIS:SALT WATER CONTAMINATION MAY OCCUR.INCREASED INCIDENTS AREREPORTED IN THE WINTER MONTHS.SALT WATER MAY PROVIDE A CONDUCTIVE PATHBELOW CURRENT RATING OF FUSE BUT SUFFICIENT TO OVERHEAT SWITCH PANEL.STATUS: GM RECALLED E-BODY CONVERTIBLES (87V-167).

GM RESPONSE TO11/23/87 IR DATED 12/15/87. EA CLOSED 2/18/88.===

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA86-003. 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.

Cadillac

Cadillac Deville
- 1982, 1983
Cadillac Eldorado
- 1984
Cadillac Fleetwood
- 1982, 1983

All Cadillac recalls

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.

Cadillac VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA86-003

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.