Hummer H2 Investigations (2004)

2 ODI actions on file.

• EAEA05017CLOSEDOpened 10/28/2005
  HUMMER H2 STEERING KNUCKLE FAILURES
  SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

  ODI UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION AT THE CONCLUSION OF PE04-080.THE ALLEGED DEFECT INVOLVES THE FAILURE OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE AT THE LOWER BALL JOINT BOSS, RESULTING IN A SEPARATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT FROM THE KNUCKLE.A LOWER BALL JOINT SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING AND/OR A DISABLED VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THE FRACTURES OF H2 STEERING KNUCKLES CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO WHEEL/TIRE COLLISION FORCES BEING TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY TO THE STEERING KNUCKLE.THE ORIGINAL KNUCKLE DESIGN APPEARS TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR THE H2 APPLICATION.EVIDENCE FROM INSPECTED VEHICLES, PHOTOGRAPHS, POLICE REPORTS AND EDR DATA INDICATES COLLISION IMPACT EVENTS PLACED STRESS ON THE STEERING KNUCKLE CAUSING IT TO FRACTURE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT COMPONENT.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THIS ISSUE IF WARRANTED.

• PEPE04080CLOSEDOpened 12/2/2004
  STEERING KNUCKLE FRACTURE
  STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

  DURING THE PE, ODI INVESTIGATED THE HUMMER H2 FOR FRACTURES WHICH WERE OCCURRING AT THE FRONT STEERING KNUCKLE LOWER BOSS.WHEN THE KNUCKLE LOWER BOSS FRACTURES, THE LOWER BALL JOINT STUD IS RELEASED AND THE ENTIRE KNUCKLE AND WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY SEPARATES FROM THE VEHICLE.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS INVESTIGATION TO GAIN A FULL TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THESE FAILURES.