NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Structure complaints
25 reportsClear category filter89,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesStructure
LAST JUNE I WENT TO THE STORE AND TRIED TO OPEN MY BACK DOORS AND THEY WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN ONE OF THE BACK DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY. THE DOOR LOCKS INDICATED THE DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE…
Read full complaint
LAST JUNE I WENT TO THE STORE AND TRIED TO OPEN MY BACK DOORS AND THEY WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN ONE OF THE BACK DOORS FROM THE OUTSIDE ONLY. THE DOOR LOCKS INDICATED THE DOORS WERE NOT LOCKED. IF I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO GET PEOPLE OUT OF THE BACK SEAT OF MY CAR THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE LOCKING MECHANISMS FAILED ON BOTH DOORS. BOTH DOORS HAS THIS LOCK ISSUE FOR ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AND THEN ONE OF THE LOCKS STARTED WORKING AGAIN FROM THE INSIDE. EVENTUALLY THE OTHER DOOR STARTED WORKING AGAIN ONCE IT WAS GETTING CLOSE TO WINTER. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS LOOKED INTO AND A RECALL DONE BY GM. GM CONSISTENTLY PUTS OUT EXPENSIVE CARS WITH INADEQUATE PARTS THAT FAIL. I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND THIS WAS TYPICAL OF ALL CHEVY IMAPLA'S NO MATTER THE YEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10627217
80,000 miles · Aug 21, 2014
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10627182
125,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringStructureCrash
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING GOT STIFF. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHICH CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO A BRICK MAILBOX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10617898
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2014
Structure
SOMEONE EXITED THE VEHICLE'S REAR DRIVER SIDE. ONCE THE DOOR WAS SHUT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO OPEN AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609728
196,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Exterior LightingSteeringStructureCrash
CAR HARD TO STEER AND TURN, HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER DAMAGE THE LEFT FRONT BUMPER, LIGHT, BODY FRAME ON LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592708
82,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure
FROM TIME TO TIME I HEAR SOME BANGING NOISE LIKE SOMEONE IS IN MY TRUNK OR LIKE IT THE SIDE. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT . ALSO MY POWER STEERING MAKE NOISE ALL THE TIME. AND MY DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT BULB COMES LOOSE AND BLOWS OUT A LOT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING WITH THE CONNECTOR. TO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592697
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2014
Electrical SystemStructureFire
ITS A 2006 IMPALA SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND SMOKE CAME OUT THE VENTS OF THE DASH !!! THE TRACTION LIGHT WAS ON AND THE POWER SEATS DO NOT WORK BUT IT STILL RUNS, SHE LEFT THE CAR AND HAD IT TOED ! SO I WAS WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANY ONE ELSE ? IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT GM HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOU…
Read full complaint
ITS A 2006 IMPALA SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND SMOKE CAME OUT THE VENTS OF THE DASH !!! THE TRACTION LIGHT WAS ON AND THE POWER SEATS DO NOT WORK BUT IT STILL RUNS, SHE LEFT THE CAR AND HAD IT TOED ! SO I WAS WONDERING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANY ONE ELSE ? IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT GM HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT !!!! I READ A LOT OF DASH FIRES FROM THE ELECTRICAL BOX ON DIFFERENT COMPLAINTS AND SOME THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK WHEN THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BEGIN AND TRAPS YOU IN THE CAR !!! ITS HARD TO BELIEVE THIS GOES ON WITH NO OUTCOME ITS LIKE SOMEONE HAS TO DIE OR GET KILLED BEFORE ANYTHING IS DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587825
91,000 miles · May 7, 2014
Power TrainStructureVehicle Speed Control
AT ABOUT 91000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP (NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, NOT GOING INTO ANY GEAR ETC.) IT FINALLY WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL UNLESS I TURNED THE CAR OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND WOULD THEN DRIVE FOR ABOUT 2-5 MINUTES THEN ALL THE GEARS WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THINKING IT WAS JUST A CE…
Read full complaint
AT ABOUT 91000 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP (NOT SHIFTING RIGHT, NOT GOING INTO ANY GEAR ETC.) IT FINALLY WOULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL UNLESS I TURNED THE CAR OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND WOULD THEN DRIVE FOR ABOUT 2-5 MINUTES THEN ALL THE GEARS WOULD GO OUT AGAIN. I HAD IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP THINKING IT WAS JUST A CENSOR AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED. IT COST ME ALMOST $3000 TO GET IT FIXED. I HAVE READ ON HERE AND ONLINE THAT THE 2006 CHEVY IMPALA HAS HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THIS. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND WISH THERE WAS A WAY TO GET AT LEAST A LITTLE REFUND ON THE COST. ALSO I HAVE TRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING TO GET THE PASSENGER SIDE BODY SIDE MOLDING TO STAY ON AND PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO STATE THAT THEY HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THAT ONE STAYING ON. IT CATCHES MY DOOR IF I DON'T REMEMBER TO PUSH IT IN BEFORE OPENING THE DOOR. IT IS GOING TO COST ME $50.79 PLUS SHIPPING TO GET A NEW ONE OF THESE AS WELL. THE THIRD THING I HAVE WRONG IS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH WHEEL BEARINGS IN THE FRONT END BECAUSE OF MY ABS TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR BEING MESSED UP! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10587053
178,000 miles · Apr 7, 2014
StructureSuspensionWheelsCrashInjury
SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A LIGHT POLE ON PASSENGER SIDE,TORE OFF FRONT TIER AND SUSPENSION, CAR ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, BLEW OUT MOST OF THE WINDOWS, TORE UP THE WHOLE INTERIOR, SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL AND LANDED UP RIGHT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! I BROKE MY SHOULDER, COLLAR BONE AND HAND, THE CAR …
Read full complaint
SWERVED TO MISS A DEER, RAN OFF THE ROAD HIT A LIGHT POLE ON PASSENGER SIDE,TORE OFF FRONT TIER AND SUSPENSION, CAR ROLLED A COUPLE OF TIMES, BLEW OUT MOST OF THE WINDOWS, TORE UP THE WHOLE INTERIOR, SLID INTO A GUARD RAIL AND LANDED UP RIGHT, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! I BROKE MY SHOULDER, COLLAR BONE AND HAND, THE CAR HAD BRAND NEW TIRES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10577911
125,000 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Structure
THE REAR DOORS WILL NOT FROM EITHER THE OUTSIDE OR THE INSIDE REGARDLESS OF ALL ACTIONS TO OPEN THEM. REAR PASSENGERS HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING OVER THE FRONT SEATS TO EXIT FROM THE FRONT DOORS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10502745
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