NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
108 reportsClear category filter149,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 IMPALA CAR AS A DAILY DRIVING CAR. DROVE GREAT, NO SHIFTING ISSUES OR TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED THE CAR UP ONE MORNING AND CAR DID NOT MOVE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGING, BUT DOESN'T MOVE. IIT ACTS LIKE CAR IS NOT IN ANY DRIVE GEAR EVEN AFTER PUTTING CAR INTO A GEAR…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 IMPALA CAR AS A DAILY DRIVING CAR. DROVE GREAT, NO SHIFTING ISSUES OR TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED THE CAR UP ONE MORNING AND CAR DID NOT MOVE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGING, BUT DOESN'T MOVE. IIT ACTS LIKE CAR IS NOT IN ANY DRIVE GEAR EVEN AFTER PUTTING CAR INTO A GEAR, LIKE REVERSE OR DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #10860413
191,000 miles · Feb 15, 2016
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
DRIVING AT 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND ENGINE SLOWED DOWN SUDDENLY ,,,REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE CAME ON
NHTSA ODI #10836243
80,000 miles · Dec 7, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10808775
140,000 miles · Sep 23, 2015
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY CUT OFF WITH AN "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SIGN AND THE CAR ULTIMATELY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND THEN TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN FRANKFORT, IL. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DEPICT THE PROBLEM AND HELD MY CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. T…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY CUT OFF WITH AN "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" SIGN AND THE CAR ULTIMATELY SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE CAR WOULD NOT COME BACK ON. IT HAD TO BE TOWED HOME AND THEN TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP IN FRANKFORT, IL. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DEPICT THE PROBLEM AND HELD MY CAR FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT MAY BE SOMETHING INTERMITTENT BUT FAILED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP RELEASED MY CAR TO ME AND THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED RETURNED THE NEXT DAY. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY OUT OF COMMISSION.
NHTSA ODI #10767592
130,100 miles · Sep 13, 2015
EnginePower Train
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA SKIPS, IT STARTED SKIPPING AT 130,000 MILES. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN I PRESS THE GAS AND THE ENGINE TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO REACT, IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GET IN SEVERAL CLOSE COLLISIONS. ALSO WH…
Read full complaint
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA SKIPS, IT STARTED SKIPPING AT 130,000 MILES. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN I AM STOPPED AT A INTERSECTION AND THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN I PRESS THE GAS AND THE ENGINE TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO REACT, IT HAS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS CAUSED ME TO GET IN SEVERAL CLOSE COLLISIONS. ALSO WHEN I START THE CAR AND TRY TO BACK UP FROM MY CAR SPACE THE SAME THING HAPPENS I PRESS THE GAS TO BACK UP THE ENGINE TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO CATCH AND THEN DANGEROUSLY JERKS IN REVERSE
NHTSA ODI #10763351
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2015
Electrical SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY CAR SLOWED DOWN ONLY DRIVING 5 MPH... LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I JUST PUT A ENGINE IN THE CAR SO I KNOW THATS NOT THE PROBLEM I ALWAYS HAD THE TRANSMISSION WORKED ON IN THE PAST. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10695500
70,000 miles · Feb 17, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LOST POWER BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA ODI #10683909
80,000 miles · Feb 14, 2015
EnginePower Train
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK RECEIVED ENGINE REDUCE POWER AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME ON AND LOST POWER TO MY CAR. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY CARS BEHIND ME. APPARENTLY MY THROTTLE BODY WAS AT FAULT. ABOUT A YEAR LATER HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN WHILE COMING HOME FROM…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK RECEIVED ENGINE REDUCE POWER AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME ON AND LOST POWER TO MY CAR. I WAS NEARLY HIT BY CARS BEHIND ME. APPARENTLY MY THROTTLE BODY WAS AT FAULT. ABOUT A YEAR LATER HAD THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN WHILE COMING HOME FROM WORK. THROTTLE WENT BAD AND WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY TRAFFIC AGAIN. GOOGLE CHEVY IMPALA THROTTLE BODY AND YOU WILL SEE ALL THE PROBLEMS. NOT SURE HOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED YET. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO AT LEAST 3-4 OF THESE A WEEK. HOW IS THIS ALLOWED TO BE PUT ON CARS WHEN AT ANY RANDOM POINT THIS COULD QUIT. THEY SAID IT HAS AN ISSUE RELATED TO OIL CORRODING THE WIRES WHICH WOULD ALSO EXPLAIN WHY I GO THROUGH 3-4 QTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES. THE OIL DOES NOT DRIP ANYWHERE BUT GM SAID THIS WAS STANDARD AND COMMON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10683467
152 miles · Feb 9, 2015
Power Train
WAS DRIVING AND CAR JUST LOST POWER AND CUT OFF. STARTED BACK UP AND COULDN'T GO OVER 5MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10682112
89,000 miles · Jan 16, 2015
Power Train
IN DEC 2011/TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 88900 MILES ON MY IMPALA THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I PAID HALF AND GM PAID HALF , TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION- SO I THOUGHT, NOV 2013- 25000 MILES LATER, TRANS STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN, I CALLED GM, OPENED ANOTHER CASE, NO RESULTS OR RESPONSE, ONCE AGAIN, DEC 2014, I CONTACT…
Read full complaint
IN DEC 2011/TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 88900 MILES ON MY IMPALA THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW, CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, I PAID HALF AND GM PAID HALF , TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION- SO I THOUGHT, NOV 2013- 25000 MILES LATER, TRANS STARTED TO FAIL AGAIN, I CALLED GM, OPENED ANOTHER CASE, NO RESULTS OR RESPONSE, ONCE AGAIN, DEC 2014, I CONTACTED GM AGAIN, TRANSMISSION GONE IN CAR APPROX. 30,000 MILES LATER, FROM WHEN THEY INITIALLY REBUILT THE TRANS, AND THE DEALER NOW WANTS 2200 TO PUT A TRANS IN THE CAR, I PAID ALMOST 2000 BEFORE IN DEC.2011/JAN2012 FOR THAT TRANS TO BE REBUILT, HERE IT IS 30000 MILE LATER AND THE TRANS IS GOING...THEY SHOULD HAVE RE-CALLED THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THAT CAR, BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS SAME HORROR STORY ABOUT THE 2006/2007/2008'S TRANSMISSIONS/ I HAVE 3 SEPARATE CASE #'S WITH GM, REGARDING THAT TRANS ON MY CAR. I ALSO OWN A 2013 MALIBU, SO THE 2006 IMPALA HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN ENOUGH FOR THE TRANS TO BE GONE ON IT AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10672893
NHTSA investigations
1PE09025 · Power Steering Fluid Leaks - Fires
Opened May 13, 2009 · Closed Oct 2, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections; Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2006 TO ADDRESS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND/OR CLAMPS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED IN VEHICLES PRIMARILY OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES THAT EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES:ALASKA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING.AT THE TIME THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) WAS OPENED, ONLY 1 OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) WAS FROM A STATE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN.IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST SENT BY THE ODI, GM PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED 6 ALLEGED FIRES AND 1 ALLEGED MINOR CRASH POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRES IS A DUPLICATE OF A REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI.OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS, 2 OF THE 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE REMEDY DETAILED IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED.ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.IT IS UNDETERMINED WHETHER THE INCIDENTS WERE RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR WERE A BY PRODUCT OF THE REPAIR.OF THE OTHER FOUR ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS, 1 INCIDENT INVOLVED SMOKE ONLY AND NO VISIBLE FLAMES.BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, THE REMAINING 3 FIRE INCIDENTS WERE LOCALIZED EVENTS THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND SURROUNDING WIRING.ALL 3 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED.NONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED.ODI IS AWARE OF 1 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE.BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY A FRIEND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP.IN TOTAL ODI IS AWARE OF 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONSUMER ALLEGED FLAMES WERE VISIBLE.ALL OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTENDED. ODI IS AWARE 1 MINOR CRASH ALLEGED TO BE RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.THE CONSUMER ALLEGED A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING THE TURN DUE TO EXPERIENCING HIGH POWER STEERING EFFORTS AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, GM INFORMED ODI THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN DECEMBER OF 2009 FOR THE ENTIRE US. AS A REMEDY THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMPS FOR VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WILL BE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED COMPONENTS.BASED ON THE LOW FREQUENCIES AND MINOR SEVERITIES OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND CRASH,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.GM'S EXPANDED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN 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.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:hose, Piping, And Connections
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2006 TO ADDRESS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND/OR CLAMPS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED IN VEHICLES PRIMARILY OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES THAT EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES:ALASKA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING.AT THE TIME THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) WAS OPENED, ONLY 1 OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) WAS FROM A STATE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN.IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST SENT BY THE ODI, GM PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED 6 ALLEGED FIRES AND 1 ALLEGED MINOR CRASH POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRES IS A DUPLICATE OF A REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI.OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS, 2 OF THE 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE REMEDY DETAILED IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED.ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.IT IS UNDETERMINED WHETHER THE INCIDENTS WERE RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR WERE A BY PRODUCT OF THE REPAIR.OF THE OTHER FOUR ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS, 1 INCIDENT INVOLVED SMOKE ONLY AND NO VISIBLE FLAMES.BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, THE REMAINING 3 FIRE INCIDENTS WERE LOCALIZED EVENTS THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND SURROUNDING WIRING.ALL 3 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED.NONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED.ODI IS AWARE OF 1 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE.BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY A FRIEND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP.IN TOTAL ODI IS AWARE OF 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONSUMER ALLEGED FLAMES WERE VISIBLE.ALL OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTENDED. ODI IS AWARE 1 MINOR CRASH ALLEGED TO BE RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.THE CONSUMER ALLEGED A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING THE TURN DUE TO EXPERIENCING HIGH POWER STEERING EFFORTS AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, GM INFORMED ODI THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN DECEMBER OF 2009 FOR THE ENTIRE US. AS A REMEDY THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMPS FOR VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WILL BE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED COMPONENTS.BASED ON THE LOW FREQUENCIES AND MINOR SEVERITIES OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND CRASH,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.GM'S EXPANDED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN 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.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist:power Steering Fluid
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2006 TO ADDRESS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND/OR CLAMPS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED IN VEHICLES PRIMARILY OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES THAT EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES:ALASKA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING.AT THE TIME THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) WAS OPENED, ONLY 1 OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) WAS FROM A STATE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN.IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST SENT BY THE ODI, GM PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED 6 ALLEGED FIRES AND 1 ALLEGED MINOR CRASH POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRES IS A DUPLICATE OF A REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI.OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS, 2 OF THE 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE REMEDY DETAILED IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED.ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.IT IS UNDETERMINED WHETHER THE INCIDENTS WERE RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR WERE A BY PRODUCT OF THE REPAIR.OF THE OTHER FOUR ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS, 1 INCIDENT INVOLVED SMOKE ONLY AND NO VISIBLE FLAMES.BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, THE REMAINING 3 FIRE INCIDENTS WERE LOCALIZED EVENTS THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND SURROUNDING WIRING.ALL 3 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED.NONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED.ODI IS AWARE OF 1 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE.BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY A FRIEND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP.IN TOTAL ODI IS AWARE OF 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONSUMER ALLEGED FLAMES WERE VISIBLE.ALL OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTENDED. ODI IS AWARE 1 MINOR CRASH ALLEGED TO BE RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.THE CONSUMER ALLEGED A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING THE TURN DUE TO EXPERIENCING HIGH POWER STEERING EFFORTS AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, GM INFORMED ODI THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN DECEMBER OF 2009 FOR THE ENTIRE US. AS A REMEDY THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMPS FOR VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WILL BE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED COMPONENTS.BASED ON THE LOW FREQUENCIES AND MINOR SEVERITIES OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND CRASH,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.GM'S EXPANDED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN 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.
Steering:hydraulic Power Assist System
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN IN OCTOBER OF 2006 TO ADDRESS A FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE AND/OR CLAMPS THAT COULD OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED IN VEHICLES PRIMARILY OPERATED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES THAT EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES:ALASKA, MAINE, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN AND WYOMING.AT THE TIME THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) WAS OPENED, ONLY 1 OF THE 33 COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) WAS FROM A STATE COVERED BY THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN.IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST SENT BY THE ODI, GM PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED 6 ALLEGED FIRES AND 1 ALLEGED MINOR CRASH POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT. ONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRES IS A DUPLICATE OF A REPORT RECEIVED BY ODI.OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS, 2 OF THE 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED AFTER THE REMEDY DETAILED IN THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WAS PERFORMED.ONE OF THE VEHICLES WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT.IT IS UNDETERMINED WHETHER THE INCIDENTS WERE RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT OR WERE A BY PRODUCT OF THE REPAIR.OF THE OTHER FOUR ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS, 1 INCIDENT INVOLVED SMOKE ONLY AND NO VISIBLE FLAMES.BASED ON THE INFORMATION PROVIDED, THE REMAINING 3 FIRE INCIDENTS WERE LOCALIZED EVENTS THAT PRIMARILY INVOLVED DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND SURROUNDING WIRING.ALL 3 OF THESE VEHICLES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED.NONE OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENDED.ODI IS AWARE OF 1 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST RESPONSE.BASED ON THE CONSUMER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT, THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED BY A FRIEND AND THE VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED AT A DEALERSHIP.IN TOTAL ODI IS AWARE OF 6 ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS WHERE THE CONSUMER ALLEGED FLAMES WERE VISIBLE.ALL OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ATTENDED. ODI IS AWARE 1 MINOR CRASH ALLEGED TO BE RELATED TO A POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK.THE CONSUMER ALLEGED A MINOR CRASH OCCURRED AS THE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A DRIVEWAY AND HAD DIFFICULTY NEGOTIATING THE TURN DUE TO EXPERIENCING HIGH POWER STEERING EFFORTS AND STRUCK A SNOW BANK.IN A LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, GM INFORMED ODI THAT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL COMMENCE IN DECEMBER OF 2009 FOR THE ENTIRE US. AS A REMEDY THE POWER STEERING HOSE ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLES WITH V8 ENGINES AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE AND CLAMPS FOR VEHICLES WITH V6 ENGINES WILL BE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED COMPONENTS.BASED ON THE LOW FREQUENCIES AND MINOR SEVERITIES OF THE ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND CRASH,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.GM'S EXPANDED CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE FREE REPAIRS TO VEHICLES EXCLUDED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMPAIGN.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN 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.
Illustration