Toyota engineering analysis EA18006
Steering Column Separation. NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened this engineering analysis about the column on 12 model years (2008–2013). Opened Nov 16, 2018, closed Apr 2, 2024 after 5.4 years without a recall. closed
What NHTSA says
Source: Office of Defects Investigation, as filedOn November 16, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an Engineering Analysis (EA18-006) as an upgrade to a Preliminary Evaluation (PE18-005). The investigation focused on allegations of steering wheel separation from the lower steering column after using the tilt and/or telescoping mechanism. Given the separation occurring when operating the tilt and/or telescoping function and failure of both shear capsules to maintain the lower steering column mounting position, potential for shear capsule damage in the known failures due to collisions, the overall low rate of occurrence, and the updated manufacturer documentation, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The agency reserves right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. A detailed summary of the investigation is attached to this closing resume. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
A Engineering Analysis is the deeper stage, usually upgraded from a Preliminary Evaluation: NHTSA tests, requests engineering documents and decides whether a safety defect exists. The summary is the agency’s own text from its investigation file, unedited; the opening and closing resumes with the full reasoning are on NHTSA’s site under this number.
What this means for an owner
Source: and what happens nextAn investigation is not a finding that a defect exists, and it puts no duty on anyone. NHTSA opens a Preliminary Evaluation when complaints and other reports suggest a condition worth asking the manufacturer about; it upgrades to an Engineering Analysis when the answers warrant testing; it closes either when it recommends a recall, when the manufacturer recalls on its own, or when no defect trend is found. The agency’s own goals are about four months for a petition, eight for a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query and eighteen for an Engineering Analysis; many run longer.
This one closed without a recall. That means NHTSA found no defect trend it chose to act on at the time, or the manufacturer addressed the condition another way (a service campaign or a bulletin, which have their own pages). A closed file can be reopened if new reports arrive.
Model years it names
Source: as NHTSA filed themAlso named: 2008 Toyota Highlander; 2009 Toyota Highlander; 2010 Toyota Highlander; 2011 Toyota Highlander; 2012 Toyota Highlander; 2013 Toyota Highlander; 2008 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2009 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2010 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2011 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2012 Toyota Highlander Hybrid; 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.
A vehicle page’s investigation list carries the same action; a name here is the scope NHTSA opened, not a list of affected VINs.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationIs EA18006 a recall?
No. A engineering analysis is NHTSA asking questions, not a recall. A safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number and a duty to repair for free; this one closed without one. Whether one particular vehicle has an open recall is a VIN question at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is EA18006 still open?
No. It closed on Apr 2, 2024 without a recall.
Which vehicles does EA18006 cover?
NHTSA opened it on 12 model years: 2008 Toyota Highlander, 2009 Toyota Highlander, 2010 Toyota Highlander, 2011 Toyota Highlander, 2012 Toyota Highlander, 2013 Toyota Highlander and more. That is the scope of the inquiry, not a list of affected vehicles; a recall, if one follows, defines its own population by VIN.