NHTSA complaint: 2000 DODGE CARAVAN — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
THIS IS A FOLLOW UP ON NAD-40,REQ. 18445:CAG. I RECEIVED A REPORT FROM QUALI-TECH, INC. (MATERIALS ANALYSIS LABORATORY) REGARDING THE TESTING OF MY STEERING WHEEL THAT SNAPPED AT THE 12:00 O'CLOCK POSITION WHILE I WAS PUSHING ON BRAKE AND PULLING WHEEL TOWARD ME BEFORE IMPACT. THE REPORT STATES "THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED AT A LOCATION WHERE THE ALUMINUM CORE CONTAINS A HIGH AMOUNT OF POROSITY AND DENDRITIC SEGREGATION. THE CENTER SIXTY PERCENT OF THE CROSS-SECTION EXHIBITED THE POROSITY. THE PRESENCE OF THE POROSITY AND DENDRITIC SEGREGATION WOULD HIGHLY REDUCE THE STRENGTH OF THE CENTER ALUMINUM SECTION AND CAUSE FAILURE TO OCCUR AT REDUCED IMPACT LOADS AS COMPARED TO A SECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH DOES NOT CONTAIN THESE MATERIAL DEFECTS." MY QUESTION IS HOW DO I GET THE X-RAYS OF THIS STEERING WHEEL DURING ITS MANUFACTRING AND HOW MANY OTHER DEFECTIVE STEERING WHEELS ARE OUT THERE?*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation