# NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE98009
> **INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR** · Opened 1998-02-13 · Closed 1998-06-30
## Investigation
- **Action number:** PE98009
- **Type:** Preliminary Evaluation
- **Open date:** 1998-02-13
- **Close date:** 1998-06-30
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Affected makes:** FORD
- **Affected components:** SUSPENSION
- **Affected model years:** 1997
- **Affected (make, year) variants:** 2
## Summary

THREE CONSUMERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURE OF ONE OF THE TWO FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ONE CASE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, AND THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED WHEN THE OTHER TWO FAILURES OCCURRED.NO CRASHES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.TORSION BAR FAILURES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE FAIRLY UNCOMMON AND IN EACH OF THE REPORTED CASES, THE FAILURES OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW MILEAGES.THE FAILURES ARE ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE OCCURRED IN A COMMON LOCATION, APPROXIMATELY SIX INCHES FROM THE CONTROL ARM.A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THESE FAILURES.

## Source
- [NHTSA ODI investigation page](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchResults?searchType=ID&targetCategory=I&searchCriteria.nhtsa_ids=PE98009)
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