NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
106 reportsClear category filter110,000 miles · Feb 24, 2008
Electrical SystemInjury
I HAVE A 2003 CHEV CAVALIER. OWNED IT FROM THE TIME IT HAD 4 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING QUITE CORRECTLY. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY UNTIL WHEN I CAME TO A…
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I HAVE A 2003 CHEV CAVALIER. OWNED IT FROM THE TIME IT HAD 4 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WASN'T READING QUITE CORRECTLY. I FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READ THAT I WAS GOING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT AND PEOPLE WERE TAILGATING ME. I DIDN'T REALIZE WHY UNTIL WHEN I CAME TO A STOP MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 20MPH. OVER TIME I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WILL READ AT 60MPH AT A DEAD STAND STILL. BUT THAT IS NOT EVEN THE HALF OF IT, IT STILL GOT WORSE. AT A STAND STILL IT WOULD READ 100MPH+ AND WHEN MOVING IT WOULD GO BACK OVER AND START AT 0MPH. RIDICULOUS!!! I HAVE RECEIVED TWO TICKETS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALSO, ON TOP OF ALL OF THAT, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL SOMETIMES READ 260 DEGREES. I'VE CHECKED THE WATER AND ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE CAUSING MY TEMP TO READ EXCESSIVELY HIGH AND THERE ARE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. THE WHOLE DASHBOARD CLUSTER IS MESSED UP. SOMETIMES MY FUEL GAUGES WON'T EVEN READ CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM HAS JUST GOTTEN OUT OF HAND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT CAN COST AS MUCH AS $1,000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218994
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2008
Electrical System
PLEASE ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10218011, INVOLVING THE SECOND INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND GAVE ERRONEOUS READINGS. THIS IS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIMILAR P…
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PLEASE ALSO SEE COMPLAINT ODI NUMBER 10218011, INVOLVING THE SECOND INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THIS COMPLAINT INVOLVES THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AND GAVE ERRONEOUS READINGS. THIS IS A SEPARATE COMPLAINT ABOUT A SIMILAR PROBLEM AS LISTED ABOVE THAT OCCURRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THAT PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED AT A COST TO ME OF ABOUT $500. I DID NOT KEEP ALL THE PAPERWORK, BUT I SUPPOSE THAT THE JACK SCHMITT CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE THAT DATA. THE "INCIDENT DATE" LISTED IS AN ESTIMATE, I DO NOT RECALL THE DATE OR YEAR EXACTLY, IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN 2006. MILEAGE AT THE TIME IS UNKNOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218012
131,100 miles · Feb 14, 2008
Electrical System
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT ARE GIVING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AND THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE-YEARS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO US THEN WAS ABOUT $500.…
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THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SPEEDOMETER AND THERMOSTAT GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BUT ARE GIVING ERRONEOUS READINGS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AND THE FIRST INSTRUMENT PANEL ONE WAS REPLACED ABOUT THREE-YEARS LATER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COST TO US THEN WAS ABOUT $500. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218011
Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 2008
Electrical System
I HAVE REPLACED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE 4 TIMES IN THIS CAR. IT FAILS SUCH THAT THE ENGINE IN ONLY RUNNING ON 2 CYLINDERS. TESTING HAS SHOWN THE COIL PACKS ARE OK AND THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ICM COMPUTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10216331
30,000 miles · Jan 12, 2008
Electrical System
JUST DRIVING ALONG. THE SPEEDOMETER STARTS TO JUMP, SLOW, SPEED UP, AND STOP. PER PHONE CONVERSATION 1/14/08 PROBLEM WITH SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING, NOT VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN. SMCH *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214603
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2007
Electrical System
I JUST WATCHED A REPORT ABOUT SPEEDOMETER GOING HAYWIRE ON GM TRUCKS AND SUV'S. WELL, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT MY 2003 CHEVY CAVALIER IS ALSO HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS SCHEDULED FOR SERVICE ON FRIDAY TO THE TUNE OF $400.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10212273
35,000 miles · Dec 6, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
2003 CAVALIER ENGINE STALL ON RED LIGHTS/ COMING TO STOP/ TURNING CORNERS AT LOW IDLE SPEEDS CAUSING A LOSS IN POWER STEERING AND ABS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVE, IMMEDIATE RESTART IS AVAILABLE, HOWEVER WHILE TURNING HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. BELIEVED TO BE CAUSED DUE TO FAULTY WIRING TO INTAKE TEMP SENSOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10211035
99,000 miles · Nov 14, 2007
Electrical System
THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IT CAN SAY THAT I AM GOING 90 WHEN I AM GOING ONLY 35 ALSO THE HEAT GAUGE NEXT TO IT WILL GO WAY OVER INTO THE SPEEDOMETER AREA WHICH THEN THEY HIT EACH OTHER WHICH CAUSES THEM TO NOT WORK PROPERLY ALSO THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK RIGHT EITHER WHEN I GET LOW ENOUGH FOR THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT…
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THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY IT CAN SAY THAT I AM GOING 90 WHEN I AM GOING ONLY 35 ALSO THE HEAT GAUGE NEXT TO IT WILL GO WAY OVER INTO THE SPEEDOMETER AREA WHICH THEN THEY HIT EACH OTHER WHICH CAUSES THEM TO NOT WORK PROPERLY ALSO THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK RIGHT EITHER WHEN I GET LOW ENOUGH FOR THE CHECK GAUGE LIGHT TO COME ON IT WILL START GOING UP SAYING THAT I HAVE A HALF TANK OF GAS EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THAT I DO NOT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208892
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2007
Electrical SystemVisibility
SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE RADIO HAS TURNED OFF BY ITSELF IT ALSO ERASES ANY PROGRAMMED STATIONS. THE WINDOWS DON'T ALWAYS GO UP , IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON , IT HAPPENS TO ONE WINDOW AND NOT THE OTHER AND THEN REVERSES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10178474
44,975 miles · Oct 30, 2006
Electrical System
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, ALL GAUGES EXCEPT THE RPM GAUGE LOST POWER AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALSO, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF, AND AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PLANS TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH T…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH ON DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, ALL GAUGES EXCEPT THE RPM GAUGE LOST POWER AND STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ALSO, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF, AND AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PLANS TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA. UPDATED 11/30/2006- THESE FAILURES WERE CAUSED BY A DEAD CELL IN THE BATTERY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10172181
NHTSA investigations
4EA07015 · Engine Stalling - Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Nov 1, 2007 · Closed Oct 28, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; 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.
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.
PE07033 · Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Jun 28, 2007 · Closed Nov 1, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; 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.
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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