Four crossover vehicles from three different manufacturers have come under scrutiny by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, according to the Detroit News. The Toyota Rav4 from model years 2006-2008 is under preliminary investigation for rear tie-rod failure due to rusting, and NHTSA has also said it will review consumer-defect petitions for the 2005 Honda Pilot and General Motors' GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook from 2007-2009.

NHTSA cited seven complaints of rust-related rear tie-rod failure in the Rav4, four of which reported failure at speeds of 35 mph or more, which caused a loss of vehicle control. Speaking to the Detroit News, Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons said the automaker "will fully cooperate with [NHTSA's] investigation," though he noted that the manufacturer had yet to receive a request for information from the agency.

The petition for investigation of the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia stems from numerous reports of low headlamp illumination; the petition "reported that the wiring harness inside the headlamp assembly of his 2008 Saturn Outlook had overheated and subsequently melted," according to the Detroit News. Between April 2008 and May, NHTSA had received 415 consumer complaints about this issue. In December, General Motors began providing free headlamp bulb connectors and reimbursements for previous repair work for the issue in Outlook and Acadia models. More than 60 percent of the 343,000 vehicles covered by the program have been repaired.

The other petition for investigation involves the Honda Pilot for malfunctioning stability control leading to steering failure and the brakes applying without driver input. NHTSA reports 35 complaints involving the aforementioned issues in relation to the 2005 Honda Pilot, which "appear to be related to inappropriate stability-control system activation," according to the news report.

A Honda spokesman said the manufacturer is aware of the investigation and has its own investigation under way as well.

[Source: Detroit News.]