DETROIT, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. safety regulators may open an investigation into an alleged steering column defect in vehicles built by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler unit between 1993 and 1995, in a move that could trigger a recall of more than 5 million cars and light trucks.
A spokeswoman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Wednesday that no investigation has been opened so far, however. The agency is simply evaluating a petition for a probe into alleged steering column failures.
Chrysler spokeswoman Angela Spencer Ford said the petition was made on April 18 by two lawyers.
"We believe there are no merits to their claims," Spencer Ford said, adding that NHTSA had not requested any information from Chrysler about the petition.
"No formal investigation, as part of the recall process, has been opened at this time," she said.
If an investigation were opened, however, it could be the first step in a process leading to a potentially costly recall of up to 5.4 million Chrysler and Dodge vehicles from the 1993-1995 model years.
Spencer Ford said she was unaware of any accidents or injuries stemming from the alleged steering column defect, which NHTSA said involves separation of a collapsible shaft system and a loss of steering control.
According to NHTSA, its records show 4 complaints and one reported injury relating to the issue.