# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE87037
> **PITMAN ARM FAILURE** · Opened 1987-07-01 · Closed 1987-11-03
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE87037
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 1987-07-01
- **Close date:** 1987-11-03
- **Manufacturer:** Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- **Affected makes:** DODGE; PLYMOUTH
- **Affected components:** STEERING
- **Affected model years:** 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 18
## Summary

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:BOTH CHRYSLER AND MITSUBISHIINDEPENDENTLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURES WERE DUE TO SEVERE IMPACT LOADINGTRANSMITTED TO THE SHAFT BY THE STEERING LINKAGE SYSTEM -- IN OTHER WORDSSHAFT FAILURE IS THE RESULT, NOT THE CAUSE, OF THE ALLEGED COLLISIONCIRCUMSTANCES.MITSUBISHI DID STRENGTHEN THE SHAFT DURING THE 1984 MODELYEAR BY INCREASING THE SPLINE AND BEARING JOURNAL DIAMETERS.ANALYSIS:FAILING COMPONENT IS THE STEERING BOX CROSS SHAFT (OUTPUT SHAFT)WHICH BREAKS BETWEEN THE BOTTOM BEARING IN THE STEERING BOX AND THE PITMANARM.KNOWN FAILURES INVOLVE 4 WHEEL DRIVE UNITS EQUIPPED WITH POWERSTEERING.CROSS SHAFT AND PITMAN ARM SALES ARE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER ON 4WHEEL DRIVE UNITS THAN 2 WHEEL DRIVE UNITS.CHRYSLER REPORTS THE CROSSSHAFT DIAMETER WAS INCREASED IN APRIL, 1984, FOR INCREASED SHAFT STRENGTHTO IMPROVE ITS CAPABILITY TO WITHSTAND SEVERE IMPACT LOADS.PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.CONTACT MITSUBISHI FORINFORMATION ON COMPARABLE VEHICLES.===

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=PE87037)
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