I BOUGHT MY 2003 CAVALIER IN FEB. 2003. WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAIL LIGHTS. MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT BURNT OUT COMPLETELY (BOTH TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT). IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE SOCKET, BULB AND GREASED THE SOCKET. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, MY LEFT TAIL LI…
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I BOUGHT MY 2003 CAVALIER IN FEB. 2003. WITHIN MONTHS OF PURCHASE I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY TAIL LIGHTS. MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT BURNT OUT COMPLETELY (BOTH TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT). IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE SOCKET, BULB AND GREASED THE SOCKET. IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS, MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT CONTINUED TO FAIL. TWO OF THOSE TIMES I WAS PULLED OVER BY THE LOCAL POLICE. ALSO DURING THE SUMMER OF 2003, MY BATTERY DIED, ALTHOUGH NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON; MY CAR STALLED WHILE IN DRIVE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT; MY WINDOW MOTORS DIED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED; MY LOCKS FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS PAST YEAR I'VE HAD EVEN MORE PROBLEMS. AS OF RECENTLY, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS FAILED, AND BOTH WERE REPLACED, AND THE RIGHT ONE WENT OUT YET AGAIN. THE TRUNK WAS LEAKING, WHICH CAUSED MOLD TO GROW IN MY TRUNK AND DAMAGING PERSONAL EFFECTS, AND ALSO CAUSING THE RIGHT SOCKET AND WIRES TO BECOME CORRODED. THE SOCKET AND WIRES WERE REPLACED AGAIN, AND THE LEAK WAS FIXED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACED FABRIC IN TRUNK. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR DIED YET AGAIN, AND WAS REPLACED. CD PLAYER STOPPED WORKING. DEALERSHIP ORDERED AND INSTALLED NEW SYSTEM. CURRENTLY I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY POWER STEERING UPON IGNITION WHEN COLD OUTSIDE, SQUEAKING SOUNDS OVER FRONT TIRES WHILE GOING OVER BUMPS AND TURNING, AND ALL AIR VENTS, EXCEPT PASSENGER SIDE ARE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DEALERSHIP LOOKED AT VENTS BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE "OPERATING AS DESIGNED." OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, MY "NEW" CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 15 TIMES. WAY TO GO GM...ANOTHER WINNER!
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY EVERY TWO MONTHS THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE THE DASH BOARD. THE FUEL PUMP BLEW OUT. THE HEATING A COOLING WENT BAD. THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. CONSUMER HAS NOT FOUND OUT WHAT IT IS AS OF YET. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALER AT LEAST TWENTY TIMES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10113043
34,000 miles · Feb 25, 2005
Electrical System
STARTING IN OCTOBER 2004, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BEGAN TURNING OFF ANYTIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT…
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STARTING IN OCTOBER 2004, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS IN MY 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER BEGAN TURNING OFF ANYTIME I DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WERE UNABLE TO CONDUCT ANY REPAIRS. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALERSHIP STILL COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. THE THIRD TIME, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND THEY MADE A "HIGHLY EDUCATED GUESS REPAIR." THE FOURTH AND LAST TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MADE NO REPAIR ATTEMPT AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TO NOT BRING THE VEHICLE IN AGAIN UNLESS I AM ABLE TO BRING IT IN WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURNED OFF. AT THIS POINT, I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A FLASHLIGHT IN THE CAR SO THAT I CAN SEE MY SPEED AND OTHER GAUGES WHEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE OFF. WHILE THEY DO NOT TURN OFF EVERY TIME I DRIVE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY ARE OFF QUITE FREQUENTLY. AT THE WORST, I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AT THE LEAST, I ASSUME I WILL BE PULLED OVER AT SOME POINT FOR DRIVING WITH A FLASHLIGHT ON IN THE CAR. WHILE I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE A 5-YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND GM IS REQUIRED TO WARRANT ALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS UNDER IT. FROM INTERNET RESEARCH, I CAN TELL THAT GM HAS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE 2003-2004 CAVALIERS AND I FEEL THIS IS ONE MORE MANIFESTATION OF THAT MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10112176
33,033 miles · Jan 14, 2005
Electrical System
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, ALL THE LIGHTS CUT OFF INCLUDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THEY EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE GLITCH AND UNTIL THEY DO SHE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT IS. …
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CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING, ALL THE LIGHTS CUT OFF INCLUDING THE INTERIOR LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THEY EXPLAINED TO HER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE GLITCH AND UNTIL THEY DO SHE WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS IT IS. *JB THE THEFT SERVICE SHUTS DOWN IN THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THE DEFROSTER OR HEATER IS ON THE CONSUMER SMELLS A BURNING SMELL. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10105037
24,000 miles · Oct 11, 2004
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrashInjury
FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WAS A SHORT IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS. CHEVROLET REPAIRED THAT. THEN THE HORN WOULD WORK RANDOMLY. CHEVROLET REPLACED THAT. THE A/C FAILED TO WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CHEVROLET REPAIRED THAT. THEN THE KEYLESS ENTRY RANDOMLY STOPPED WORKING, CHEVROLET TOLD ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THE KEYLESS ENTRY S…
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FIRST PROBLEM WITH MY CAR WAS A SHORT IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS. CHEVROLET REPAIRED THAT. THEN THE HORN WOULD WORK RANDOMLY. CHEVROLET REPLACED THAT. THE A/C FAILED TO WORK ON THE DRIVER SIDE. CHEVROLET REPAIRED THAT. THEN THE KEYLESS ENTRY RANDOMLY STOPPED WORKING, CHEVROLET TOLD ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THE KEYLESS ENTRY STILL DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. THEN THE CAR STARTED TURNING OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING. CHEVROLET AGAIN TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE PROBLEM DUE TO NOTHING REGISTERING ON THE COMPUTER. MY CAR TURNED OFF MID TURN AND I HIT A BRICK WALL. CHEVROLET INVESTIGATED THE ACCIDENT AND TOLD ME MY CAR DIDN'T TURN OFF. I GOT MY CAR BACK LAST TUESDAY AND MY CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAR BACK TO CHEVROLET AND ITS TURNED OFF AGAIN. I GUESS CHEVROLET WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO REPAIR MY PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10093910
10,000 miles · Aug 17, 2004
Electrical System
TAIL/TURN LIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY BURNING. REPLACED THEM MANY TIMES. WHEN REPLACED CAN NOTICE ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL AND LIGHT BULBS PLASTIC BASE IS MELTED. HAVE MADE AN SCHEDULE TO TAKE TO DEALER, BUT NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME MATTER, FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE? IS THERE A FIX FOR IT? *…
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TAIL/TURN LIGHT BULBS CONSTANTLY BURNING. REPLACED THEM MANY TIMES. WHEN REPLACED CAN NOTICE ELECTRICAL FIRE SMELL AND LIGHT BULBS PLASTIC BASE IS MELTED. HAVE MADE AN SCHEDULE TO TAKE TO DEALER, BUT NOTICED MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME MATTER, FROM OTHER CONSUMERS. IS ANYTHING BEING DONE? IS THERE A FIX FOR IT? *JB
NHTSA ODI #10087054
700 miles · Jul 21, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER.*MR THE VEHICLE TAIL LIGHT SHORTED OUT THREE TIMES THEN THE CIRCUIT SHORTED OUT. THE GAS GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE. COLD STARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT STOP LIGHT OR STALL OUT COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER' S SIDE SPEAKER BLEW. THE CD PLAYER WOULD EJECT THE CD WHILE IT WAS PLAYING.…
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VARIOUS PROBLEMS WITH 2003 CHEVROLET CAVALIER.*MR THE VEHICLE TAIL LIGHT SHORTED OUT THREE TIMES THEN THE CIRCUIT SHORTED OUT. THE GAS GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE. COLD STARTS. THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT STOP LIGHT OR STALL OUT COMPLETELY. THE DRIVER' S SIDE SPEAKER BLEW. THE CD PLAYER WOULD EJECT THE CD WHILE IT WAS PLAYING. THE RPM GAUGE BOUNCED. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR MADE NOISE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10083543
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2004
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC THAT COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET AND RESET IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081881
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2004
Electrical System
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS BEING BLOWN OUT.*MR THE VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE BLOWN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER CONTINUED TO REPAIR THEM, THEY CONTINUE TO BLOW. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SHE WAS SOLD A LEMON. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10079878
1,050 miles · May 17, 2004
Electrical System
I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM APPLE VALLEY CHEVROLET IN AUGUST 2003. THE CAR HAD 64 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALERS LOT. AFTER THE CAR EXCEEDED 1000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH NOT KEEPING RPMS AND SHUTTING OFF. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF I NO LONGER HAVE POWER STEERING AFTER THIS HREPEATEDLY HAPPENED, I IN…
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I BOUGHT MY CAR FROM APPLE VALLEY CHEVROLET IN AUGUST 2003. THE CAR HAD 64 MILES ON IT WHEN I DROVE IT OFF THE DEALERS LOT. AFTER THE CAR EXCEEDED 1000 MILES IT STARTED HAVING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH NOT KEEPING RPMS AND SHUTTING OFF. WHEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF I NO LONGER HAVE POWER STEERING AFTER THIS HREPEATEDLY HAPPENED, I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING AND TOOK IT TO THEM THREE TIMES AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IF IT DID NOT COME UP ON THEIR COMPUTER THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT AND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. *AKTHE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOVED , NO SATISFATION.DUE TO THIS BEING MY PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, MY CAR HAS AROUND 18,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND I HAVE A ROARING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL. I NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE FIXED ON MAY 11,2004. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT WANT ME LOAN ME A RENTAL AND TOLD ME AND MY MOTHER THAT IF I NEEDED A VEHICLE THAT I COULD PICK UP MY CAR AND DRIVE IT IN THAT CONDITION. MY PARENTS REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THAT UNSAFE CONDITION, MY MOTHER GOT ON TELEPHONE WITH THE SUPERVISOR OF MAINTENANCE AND THEY AGREED TO HAVE ME PICK UP A LOANER FROM THRIFY LOAN IN MARTINSBURG. MY MOTHER TOOK ME IN TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THEY HAD FIXED ALL PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE AND THAT I COULD PICK IT UP, TODAY MAY 17, 2004. I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP TODAY.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE STALLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW RATES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION WHEN COMPARED WITH PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SIMILAR CATEGORIES OF ENGINE STALL CONSEQUENCES.EVEN FOR THE EARLY MY 2003 PRODUCTION, WHERE HIGHER FAILURE RATES WERE NOTED, THE RATES OF PUMP FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL ARE LOWER THAN RATES RECORDED IN PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POPULATIONS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLOSING RESUME.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE STALLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW RATES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION WHEN COMPARED WITH PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SIMILAR CATEGORIES OF ENGINE STALL CONSEQUENCES.EVEN FOR THE EARLY MY 2003 PRODUCTION, WHERE HIGHER FAILURE RATES WERE NOTED, THE RATES OF PUMP FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL ARE LOWER THAN RATES RECORDED IN PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POPULATIONS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLOSING RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE STALLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW RATES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION WHEN COMPARED WITH PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SIMILAR CATEGORIES OF ENGINE STALL CONSEQUENCES.EVEN FOR THE EARLY MY 2003 PRODUCTION, WHERE HIGHER FAILURE RATES WERE NOTED, THE RATES OF PUMP FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL ARE LOWER THAN RATES RECORDED IN PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POPULATIONS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLOSING RESUME.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ODI'S ANALYSIS OF THE STALLING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT THEY CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW RATES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION WHEN COMPARED WITH PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SIMILAR CATEGORIES OF ENGINE STALL CONSEQUENCES.EVEN FOR THE EARLY MY 2003 PRODUCTION, WHERE HIGHER FAILURE RATES WERE NOTED, THE RATES OF PUMP FAILURES RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL ARE LOWER THAN RATES RECORDED IN PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POPULATIONS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CLOSING RESUME.
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATED MOTOR BRUSH WEAR IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO STOP OPERATING.GENERAL MOTORS INDICATED THAT PEROXIDE OR SULFUR, WHICH ARE BOTH PRESENT IN VARYING AMOUNTS IN GASOLINE, CAN REACT WITH THE COPPER COMMUTATOR OF THE PUMP MOTOR AND CORRODE/ROUGHEN THE SURFACE.A ROUGH COMMUTATOR SURFACE INCREASES THE RATE OF BRUSH WEAR.THE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE CAUSED BY DEGRADATION OF THE BRUSH-COMMUTATOR INTERFACE INHIBITS CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE MOTOR WINDINGS.ACCORDING TO GM, THE CONDITION WILL USUALLY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CURRENT REQUIRED DURING START-UP.WHEN THE ALLEGED DEFECT DOES CAUSE A STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY CANNOT BE RESTARTED.GM'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANT CLAIMS SHOWED THAT NO START/HARD START WAS THE MOST COMMON CONDITION AND THE FREQUENCY OF CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENTS WAS TOO LOW TO WARRANT FIELD ACTION. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-015) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA AND THE ANALYSES PROVIDED BY GM.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATED MOTOR BRUSH WEAR IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO STOP OPERATING.GENERAL MOTORS INDICATED THAT PEROXIDE OR SULFUR, WHICH ARE BOTH PRESENT IN VARYING AMOUNTS IN GASOLINE, CAN REACT WITH THE COPPER COMMUTATOR OF THE PUMP MOTOR AND CORRODE/ROUGHEN THE SURFACE.A ROUGH COMMUTATOR SURFACE INCREASES THE RATE OF BRUSH WEAR.THE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE CAUSED BY DEGRADATION OF THE BRUSH-COMMUTATOR INTERFACE INHIBITS CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE MOTOR WINDINGS.ACCORDING TO GM, THE CONDITION WILL USUALLY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CURRENT REQUIRED DURING START-UP.WHEN THE ALLEGED DEFECT DOES CAUSE A STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY CANNOT BE RESTARTED.GM'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANT CLAIMS SHOWED THAT NO START/HARD START WAS THE MOST COMMON CONDITION AND THE FREQUENCY OF CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENTS WAS TOO LOW TO WARRANT FIELD ACTION. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-015) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA AND THE ANALYSES PROVIDED BY GM.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATED MOTOR BRUSH WEAR IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO STOP OPERATING.GENERAL MOTORS INDICATED THAT PEROXIDE OR SULFUR, WHICH ARE BOTH PRESENT IN VARYING AMOUNTS IN GASOLINE, CAN REACT WITH THE COPPER COMMUTATOR OF THE PUMP MOTOR AND CORRODE/ROUGHEN THE SURFACE.A ROUGH COMMUTATOR SURFACE INCREASES THE RATE OF BRUSH WEAR.THE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE CAUSED BY DEGRADATION OF THE BRUSH-COMMUTATOR INTERFACE INHIBITS CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE MOTOR WINDINGS.ACCORDING TO GM, THE CONDITION WILL USUALLY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CURRENT REQUIRED DURING START-UP.WHEN THE ALLEGED DEFECT DOES CAUSE A STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY CANNOT BE RESTARTED.GM'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANT CLAIMS SHOWED THAT NO START/HARD START WAS THE MOST COMMON CONDITION AND THE FREQUENCY OF CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENTS WAS TOO LOW TO WARRANT FIELD ACTION. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-015) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA AND THE ANALYSES PROVIDED BY GM.
Fuel System, Gasoline
AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) HAS IDENTIFIED AN ISSUE WITH ACCELERATED MOTOR BRUSH WEAR IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 THROUGH 2003 CHEVROLET VEHICLES THAT CAN CAUSE THE PUMP TO STOP OPERATING.GENERAL MOTORS INDICATED THAT PEROXIDE OR SULFUR, WHICH ARE BOTH PRESENT IN VARYING AMOUNTS IN GASOLINE, CAN REACT WITH THE COPPER COMMUTATOR OF THE PUMP MOTOR AND CORRODE/ROUGHEN THE SURFACE.A ROUGH COMMUTATOR SURFACE INCREASES THE RATE OF BRUSH WEAR.THE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE CAUSED BY DEGRADATION OF THE BRUSH-COMMUTATOR INTERFACE INHIBITS CURRENT FLOW THROUGH THE MOTOR WINDINGS.ACCORDING TO GM, THE CONDITION WILL USUALLY RESULT IN A NO-START CONDITION BECAUSE OF THE HIGH CURRENT REQUIRED DURING START-UP.WHEN THE ALLEGED DEFECT DOES CAUSE A STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE TYPICALLY CANNOT BE RESTARTED.GM'S ANALYSIS OF WARRANT CLAIMS SHOWED THAT NO START/HARD START WAS THE MOST COMMON CONDITION AND THE FREQUENCY OF CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH STALL WHILE DRIVING INCIDENTS WAS TOO LOW TO WARRANT FIELD ACTION. THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-015) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA AND THE ANALYSES PROVIDED BY GM.
EA04028 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened Sep 14, 2004 · Closed Nov 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
ON MAY 14, 2004 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-043) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE BRAKE/TAIL TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, OR WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED.ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE 04-043 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-028).GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL/TURN SIGNAL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE BULB SOCKETS.THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LACK OF THERMAL GREASE PLACED IN BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V524) COVERING ALL MY 2003 VEHICLES.GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY THERMAL GREASE TO THEM OR REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ASSEMBLIES WITH THERMAL GREASE ALREADY ATTACHED.MODEL YEAR 2004 AND NEWER VEHICLES HAVE THE THERMAL GREASE INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE04043 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened May 14, 2004 · Closed Sep 14, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND DO NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF A CRASH WHERE THE COMPLAINANT BRAKED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IMPACTED THE COMPLAINANT'S VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR.IN MAY 2002, GM'S SUPPLIER MADE CHANGES TO THE BULB SOCKET THAT INCLUDED STOPPING THE USE OF THERMAL-MASTIC GREASE IN THE BULB SOCKET.GM REPORTS THAT THE GREASE REDUCES ARCING AT THE CONTACTS AND DISSIPATES HEAT THUS PREVENTING MELTING OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL OR BURNING OF THE CONTACTS.MOST OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE BULB SOCKET.IN JUNE 2003, GM DIRECTED THE SUPPLIER TO RESUME THE USE OF GREASE IN THE SOCKET.GM ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 04-08-42-004A ON JULY 15, 2004 ADVISING TECHNICIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF GREASE WERE ADDED TO THE BULB SOCKETS ON ALL SERVICE PARTS.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-028 TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE ISSUE.
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