NHTSA upgrades 2004–2006 Dodge Dakota and Durango probe to engineering analysis: STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING SHAFT BOLTS
On March 9, 2006, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA06004) into 2004–2006 Dodge Dakota and Durango, concerning the steering. An Engineering Analysis is the second, deeper stage of an NHTSA defect investigation, opened when ODI wants a closer technical look; it can end with NHTSA asking the manufacturer for a recall. It follows Preliminary Evaluation PE05056. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- EA06004 (Engineering Analysis)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar; Steering: Column
- Listed
- 5 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Dodge |
|---|---|
| Models | Dakota, Durango |
| Model years | 2004–2006 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
ON MARCH 9, 2006 ODI UPGRADED PRELIMINATRY EVALUATION PE05-056 TO ENGINEERNING ANALYSIS EA06-004 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF LOOSE OR MISSING STEERING SHAFT COUPLING BOLTS AND STEERING COLUMN RETAINING BOLTS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 DODGE DURANGO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MY 2005 THROUGH 2006 DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCKS.EITHER CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.ALTHOUGH ODI IDENTIFIED SOME QUALITY ISSUES IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES FOR THE DAKOTA AND DURANGO VEHICLES, THE DATA DO NOT INDICATE THAT A SAFETY DEFECT TREND IS PRESENT IN EITHER POPULATION.THE FAILURE RATES ARE LOW FOR EACH CONDITION AND TREND ANALYSES INDICATE THAT PROBLEMS WITH THE SUBJECT BOLTS WERE ISOLATED TO A FEW UNITS AFFECTED BY ASSEMBLY ERROR THAT WERE DETECTED EITHER PRE-SALE OR OCCURRED EARLY IN VEHICLE SERVICE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IN THIS MATTER DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUGJECT VEHICLES AND WILL TAKE FURHTER ACTION INTHE THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for EA06004, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Timeline
- ODI opens engineering analysis EA06004
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search EA06004 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.