Active NHTSA tire and vehicle investigations — what's currently open

NHTSA has 227 investigation records in our tire-and-vehicle dataset. Most are closed; a small handful are still open. Here's the snapshot of currently-open issues that could lead to recalls.

An NHTSA investigation is the formal precursor to most safety recalls. Before a manufacturer recalls a tire or a tire-adjacent vehicle component, NHTSA opens an investigation, requests data, and either closes it (no defect found), upgrades it (engineering analysis), or refers it for recall. Of the 227 investigation records in our tire-investigations database, the overwhelming majority are closed — meaning either no defect was found or a recall has already been issued.

This guide is a snapshot of what's currently open. We refresh the data from NHTSA's investigation feeds and rebuild this list periodically; for the live data, check nhtsa.gov/recalls directly. The most recent ingestion was 2026-05-20.

Investigation status distribution

Of 227 records in the dataset:

Closed (C): 223 — investigation completed, with either "no defect found" or a recall already issued
Open (O): 4 — currently under NHTSA review with no closure decision yet

The low open count reflects how NHTSA works: most investigations close within 12-24 months. A small backlog of long-running probes stays open longer, sometimes for several years, as NHTSA gathers data.

Currently open investigations (snapshot)

Note: the records below come from NHTSA's Bridgestone-vehicle investigation feed (which catches issues that intersect with tire and wheel systems). They are not all pure tire defects — some are vehicle-system issues that affect tire safety.

All-wheel-drive allegation — opened 2026-03-06 — vehicle-side issue affecting wheel and tire interaction
Redundant wheel fastener locking mechanism — opened 2026-03-04 — wheel-side; relevant to tire-and-rim interface
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up — opened 2026-01-30 — affects rear tire performance during the event
Loss of braking caused by rear brake hose failure — investigation 027 PE — relevant to tire grip during braking

Several other recent investigations have closed since being opened. For example, "Device can break causing tire to deflate without notification to the operator" (investigation 009 PE) was opened May 2023 and closed without a tire recall, though related TPMS components were addressed.

Investigation type codes — what each means

NHTSA uses a set of codes to indicate where in the investigation pipeline a record sits:

PE (Preliminary Evaluation): initial review of consumer complaints to determine if a deeper investigation is warranted. ~6-month duration. 129 records in our database.
EA (Engineering Analysis): formal engineering review after PE. Can take 12-24 months. Often leads to recall. 46 records in our database.
DP (Defect Petition): petition filed by an external party requesting NHTSA investigation. 26 records.
RQ (Recall Query): review of a manufacturer's voluntary recall to determine if it's adequate. 10 records.
EQ (Equipment Query): investigation of aftermarket equipment, including tires. 7 records.
AQ (Audit Query): verifies compliance with previously-issued NHTSA actions. 4 records.
SQ (Special Query): low-volume custom investigation. 4 records.

Recent investigation history — what's been closed

Looking at investigations opened in the past 5 years:

2024-2025: several PE investigations into specific tire models with elevated tread-separation complaints, most closed without finding a defect requiring recall
2023: the "device can break causing tire to deflate" PE was opened in May 2023 and closed in 2024
2022: active investigation period; several EA upgrades
Pre-2020: historical investigation backlog, mostly resolved

The closure rate is high but not universal. About 60-70% of PE investigations close without finding a defect; 30-40% upgrade to EA or recall. EA investigations have a higher conversion to recall.

What this means for tire buyers

Active investigations are early-warning signals. Even when an investigation is open, NHTSA does not issue a stop-sale order on the product — buyers can still purchase, and the manufacturer can continue selling, until and unless the investigation results in a formal recall. The investigation status is a signal, not a prohibition.

If you're considering a tire that's currently under investigation, two questions matter: how serious is the alleged defect, and how close to closure is the investigation? Both are answered on NHTSA's investigation detail pages. The TireIndex flags any per-model pages where the tire's manufacturer has an active investigation.

If you suspect a tire defect

NHTSA accepts defect petitions from consumers. The threshold is low — a single owner can file. The petition triggers a NHTSA review that either closes without action or opens a formal investigation. File at nhtsa.gov. The petition becomes part of the public record.

DOT-code recall lookup walkthrough

Frequently asked questions

Why are some 'tire' investigations actually about brakes or transmissions?

NHTSA scopes investigations by symptom, not by component. A 'rear wheel lock-up' investigation might involve the transmission causing the lock-up — but it affects tire safety during the event. We track broader categories to give a complete safety picture.

How do I know if a tire I own is under active investigation?

Check nhtsa.gov/recalls and search by the tire's manufacturer name. Or check our TireIndex per-model page, which flags any open investigation against the tire's manufacturer.

Should I buy a tire that's under investigation?

Depends on the investigation's status and severity. A PE (preliminary) investigation that's been open 6+ months without escalation is probably fine. An EA investigation, or any investigation citing crash/injury, deserves more caution.

How long do investigations stay open?

PE investigations average 6-12 months. EA investigations average 12-24 months. A handful stretch to 3-5 years for complex defect patterns.

Is the investigation database real-time?

Near-real-time. NHTSA publishes investigation status updates daily. Our database refreshes from NHTSA on a daily schedule.

Sources

By Mark Bishop · Updated 2026-05-20.