NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE15-020: Wheel Separation
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE15-020 on May 20, 2015 and closed it on January 4, 2016. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2014 Ford Edge for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE15-020 (also written PE15020)
- 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 January 4, 2016
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Ford Motor Company
- Component
- Wheels — Rim
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2014 Ford Edge
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 PE15-020.
On November 29, 2014, ODI received a complaint reporting the complete separation of an original equipment 22-inch alloy wheel rim mounted on the right front position of a model year 2014 Ford Edge vehicle (VOQ 10661278).
The driver indicated that the right-front corner of the vehicle suddenly dropped while driving, causing the vehicle to go off the road to the right and into a field.
The right-front wheel rim was found to have broken into two pieces. The owner said that there was no prior warning or wheel related problems with the vehicle. The vehicle had been driven approximately 8,500 miles at the time of the incident.
On May 29, 2015 ODI sent an information request to Ford asking for detailed information related to the specific 22 inch alloy wheel used on the Edge as well as any peer vehicles which used the same type of wheel.
On July 17, 2015 Ford provided ODI with the requested information. Ford's search showed that the single incident reported to ODI is the only instance of a wheel failure on the subject or peer vehicles.
The failed wheel was sent to the National Transportation Service Board (NTSB) materials analysis laboratory for examination. The NTSB determined that the wheel failed because of a severe impact that caused a crack that rapidly propagated around the circumference of the wheel, The rim fracture surface had a predominantly rough appearance consistent with an overstress fracture (rapid fracture)There were no abnormalities or unique features associated with the fracture initiation site.
Metallurgical analysis of the rim found that the material was within specification and no anomalies were identified that could have contributed to the failure.
See the full NTSB report for more details.
Based on the absence of additional failures and the results of the wheel material testing and failure analysis, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency will continue to monitor complaints and other information relating to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles and take further action in the future if warranted.
The following VOQ is associated with this investigation: 10661278
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE15-020. 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.
Ford
Ford Edge
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.
Ford VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE15-020
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.