NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
135 reportsClear category filter43,500 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
I HAVE A 2006 SS IMPALA I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ON GOING PROBLEMS. 1ST WATERPUMP WENT OUT THEN 2ND DRIVER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED 3RD POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED 4TH BATTERY WENT DEAD 5TH POWER STEERING HOSE OUT AGAIN AND TIE ROD ON PASSENGER NEEDS REPLACED ALSO. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR AND ITS PROBLEMS!THESE HAVE BEEN ON GOING PR…
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I HAVE A 2006 SS IMPALA I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ON GOING PROBLEMS. 1ST WATERPUMP WENT OUT THEN 2ND DRIVER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED 3RD POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED 4TH BATTERY WENT DEAD 5TH POWER STEERING HOSE OUT AGAIN AND TIE ROD ON PASSENGER NEEDS REPLACED ALSO. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR AND ITS PROBLEMS!THESE HAVE BEEN ON GOING PROBLEMS SINCE 2006. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249061
26,000 miles · Jun 13, 2008
Steering
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 50 MILES AN HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO VEER INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME. NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD APPROX. 26,000 MILES O…
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I WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 50 MILES AN HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE. I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND STARTED TO VEER INTO THE NEXT LANE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE RIGHT LANE NEXT TO ME. NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD APPROX. 26,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM WAS REPLACED WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS THE 6TH REPLACEMENT OF SUCH A DEVICE FOR THE IMPALA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230972
35,008 miles · Jun 4, 2008
Steering
MOANING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND LOUD SHRIEKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THOUGHT IT WAS POWER STEERING PUMP &/OR ALTERNATOR. I LOOK UNDER HOOD AND GROUND PS FLUID ON GROUND, PS FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE BELLOWS BOOT ON THE RACK AND PINION. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SPOOL SEAL AND THE INPUT SEAL WERE LEAKING…
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MOANING NOISE WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, AND LOUD SHRIEKING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. THOUGHT IT WAS POWER STEERING PUMP &/OR ALTERNATOR. I LOOK UNDER HOOD AND GROUND PS FLUID ON GROUND, PS FLUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE BELLOWS BOOT ON THE RACK AND PINION. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SPOOL SEAL AND THE INPUT SEAL WERE LEAKING IN THE RACK AND PINION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET THE RACK REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT 1 MONTH LATER, THE NEW RACK DEVELOPED A LEAK FROM THE SAME INPUT SEAL THAT WAS BAD ON THE OE RACK. DEALER REPLACED IT AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10229990
31,174 miles · May 5, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR CRASH. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT THEN HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF TH…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR CRASH. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT THEN HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. A REPAIR WAS MADE, BUT THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. SHE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE RACK AND PINION WERE REPLACED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. RECENTLY, THE WATER PUMP BEGAN OVERHEATING AND HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,174.
NHTSA ODI #10226726
15,000 miles · Apr 3, 2008
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT, BUT COULD NOT. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SALES DEALER AND THEY STATED THA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP AT 15 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN LEFT, BUT COULD NOT. HE PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SALES DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE WITH A HOSE AND TWO CLAMPS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 15,000. UPDATED 04/22/08. *LJ THE POWER STEERING PIPE AND HOSE WERE REPLACED. UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10223231
44,500 miles · Mar 27, 2008
Steering
1. NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS BETWEEN 0 TO 55 MPH. SOME RAPID ACCELERATIONS MAX RPM ABOUT 4500. 2. RAPID LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH RESULTED IN EXTREMELY HEAVY STEERING 3. TOWED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR REPAIR QUOTED REPAIR IS $550. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10222544
43,863 miles · Mar 4, 2008
Steering
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER STEERING. HE STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THEN IN -10 DEGREE WEATHER THE POWER STEERING WENT. DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *KB THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE.
NHTSA ODI #10220577
63,000 miles · Mar 3, 2008
SteeringFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING HOSE BEGAN LEAKING AND SPRAYED POWER STEERING FLUID OVER THE EXHAUST AND FIRE WALL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND A NEW HOSE WAS INSTAL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING HOSE BEGAN LEAKING AND SPRAYED POWER STEERING FLUID OVER THE EXHAUST AND FIRE WALL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION AND A NEW HOSE WAS INSTALLED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
NHTSA ODI #10219882
18,500 miles · Mar 1, 2008
Steering
1/24/2008 AND 2/27/2008 MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. ONCE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND ONCE ENTERING A BRIDGE; BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY ESCAPED ACCIDENT AND INJURY. T HE FIRST TIME I WAS TOWED TO BAST CHEVROLET IN SEAFORD NY (MY DEALER). BAST SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE RETURN HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THAT THERE WAS A BULLET…
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1/24/2008 AND 2/27/2008 MY POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED. ONCE ENTERING A HIGHWAY AND ONCE ENTERING A BRIDGE; BOTH TIMES I NARROWLY ESCAPED ACCIDENT AND INJURY. T HE FIRST TIME I WAS TOWED TO BAST CHEVROLET IN SEAFORD NY (MY DEALER). BAST SAID THE PROBLEM WAS THE RETURN HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP, AND THAT THERE WAS A BULLETIN ON PROBLEMS WITH THIS PUMP. I WAS TOLD THE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING TOWED TO 2 DEALERS(THE FIRST SAID HE HAD NO TIME TO LOOK AT IT.) I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE RETURN HOSE ON THE POWER STEERING PUMP. WHEN I TOLD HIM IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED LAST MONTH, HE TOLD ME THE FIRST DEALER NEVER REPLACED IT; HE ONLY ADDED A CLAMP. THE FIRST DEALER WHEN CONTACTED REPEATED THAT THE HOSE WAS REPLACED BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM ABOUT THE SECOND DEALER HE CHANGED HIS STORY SAYING THE SECOND DEALER WAS RIGHT, AND THAT ONLY THE CLAMP WAS CHANGED. MY COPY OF THE REPAIR INVOICE SAYS THEY CHANGED THE HOSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10219783
1,041 miles · Feb 21, 2008
Power TrainSteeringStructure
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED AGAIN AFTER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS LEAKING AND THEY REPAIRED THE FAILURE. CURRENTLY, THE POWER STEERING COLUMN HAS FAILED AGAIN AFTER THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,000. UPDATED 03/26/08. *LJ THE TRANSMISSION REVERSE GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HAD A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT. THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED, THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. ONE OF THE TIRE WAS LOOSING AIR.
NHTSA ODI #10218780
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.
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