NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Preliminary Evaluation PE02-082: SAFETY BELT CINCHING LATCH PLATE

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE02-082 on November 6, 2002 and closed it on April 23, 2003. NHTSA's investigations file lists 7 models from 3 makes for it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: PE02-082 (also written PE02082)
Investigation type: Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
Status: Closed April 23, 2003
Opened: November 6, 2002
Closed: April 23, 2003
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
Component: Seat Belts
Vehicles and equipment: 7 models from 3 makes, including the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Neon

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 Preliminary Evaluation PE02-082.

THERE ARE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI FOUND THAT THE SUBJECT CINCHES MEET THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 208, AND THAT MANY OF THE REPORTED FAILURES WERE DUE TO INCORRECT CHILD SAFETY SEAT INSTALLATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT RATE IS LOW (1.60/100K).

THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE FAILS TO ESTABLISH THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND AT THIS TIME.FURTHER ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES TO THIS ISSUE IS UNWARRANTED AND THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS BEING CLOSED.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE02-082. 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.

Chrysler

Chrysler PT Cruiser
- 2001, 2002, 2003
Chrysler Sebring
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

All Chrysler recalls

Dodge

Dodge Durango
- 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Dodge Neon
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Dodge Ram Van
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Dodge Stratus
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003

All Dodge recalls

Plymouth

Plymouth Neon
- 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

All Plymouth 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.

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

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for PE02-082

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.