NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports89,000 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…
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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
56,000 miles · Jan 9, 2015
SuspensionVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 66 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE SPEEDOMETER DECREASED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, LANDING 80 FEET AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AXLES WERE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 66 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE SPEEDOMETER DECREASED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH, LANDING 80 FEET AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE AXLES WERE FRACTURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE UNKNOWN INJURIES SUSTAINED THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT DID NOT DISCLOSE IF THE VEIHCLE WAS INCLUDED OR REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10671453
183,000 miles · Jan 4, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed Control
MY CAR WILL BE IN DRIVE AND GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN FLASHES BETWEEN THAT AN REDUCE ENGINE POWER. CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE REDUCED POWER ! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10669941
159,000 miles · Dec 31, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control
I'VE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THIS SPRING WITH AN ISSUE ON TRACTION CONTROL AND THE DISPLAY REPORTING 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER ". I'VE NOW HAD THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND POWER TRAIN COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. I'LL BE DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY OF APX 60MPH AND THEN THESE ERROR MESSAGES APPEAR AND THE CRUISE KICKS …
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I'VE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE THIS SPRING WITH AN ISSUE ON TRACTION CONTROL AND THE DISPLAY REPORTING 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER ". I'VE NOW HAD THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND POWER TRAIN COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. I'LL BE DRIVING AT A RATE OF SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY OF APX 60MPH AND THEN THESE ERROR MESSAGES APPEAR AND THE CRUISE KICKS OFF. THERE'S HESITATION AS I TRY TO ACCELERATE. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10669232
32,600 miles · Dec 30, 2014
Unknown Or Other
I GOT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 14V355. I CALLED MY NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER MIDWAY CHEVROLET AT 2323 W. BELL RD. PHOENIX, ARIZONA ON DECEMBER 10, 2014 @ 2 P.M.. I WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. I WAITED 3 WEEKS AND GOT NO CALL. DECEMBER 30, 2014 @ 11:30 A.M. I WAS TOLD BY '[XXX]' IN SV…
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I GOT A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 14V355. I CALLED MY NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALER MIDWAY CHEVROLET AT 2323 W. BELL RD. PHOENIX, ARIZONA ON DECEMBER 10, 2014 @ 2 P.M.. I WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. I WAITED 3 WEEKS AND GOT NO CALL. DECEMBER 30, 2014 @ 11:30 A.M. I WAS TOLD BY '[XXX]' IN SVC. DEPT. THAT HE WOULD CALL ME BACK IN 15 MIN. I WAITED OVER AN HOUR. I CALLED THEM TO ASK WHY NO CALL BACK. I GOT A RECORDING. I CALLED AGAIN AND TOLD RECEPTIONIST I WANTED TO SPEAK TO SVC. MANAGER. I GOT A RECORDING. MIDWAY CHEVROLET WILL NOT HELP THE RECALL CUSTOMER. MIDWAY CHEVROLET DID NOT CO-OPERATE. I CALLED SANDS CHEVROLET @5418 MW GRAND AVE. GLENDALE, AZ. THEY TRANSFERRED ME IMMEDIATELY TO SVC. DEPT. [XXX] IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED ME TO COME IN TOMORROW. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 2/4/16*JS
NHTSA ODI #10669120
220,000 miles · Dec 24, 2014
Air BagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
NHTSA ODI #10668170
83,571 miles · Dec 19, 2014
Steering
THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 5 OR 6 YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING COOLER LINE WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING CLAMPS AND HOSE AS PER RECALL IN 2011.ON 10/12/12 THE STEERING GEAR AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. ON 10/25/12 THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT WAS PUT ON 10/12/12 WAS FO…
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THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES IN 5 OR 6 YEARS. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING COOLER LINE WHICH WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING CLAMPS AND HOSE AS PER RECALL IN 2011.ON 10/12/12 THE STEERING GEAR AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WERE REPLACED. ON 10/25/12 THE POWER STEERING PUMP THAT WAS PUT ON 10/12/12 WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING AND WAS REPLACED. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON 12/16/14 ANOTHER POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE PUT ON AS THE PREVIOUS ONE HAD FAILED. THE PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10667392
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2014
Electrical System
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL PROBLEM. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL PERFORMED, THE REMOTE STOPPED WORKING. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10658473
160,000 miles · Dec 13, 2014
SteeringStructureSuspension
POPPING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF CAR. NOISE OCCURS WITH ACCELERATION, BRAKING, SHIFTING TRANSMISSION OR PASSING OVER SPEED BUMPS OR ROUGH ROADS. GENERALLY OCCURS AT LOWER SPEEDS, LESS THAN 35MPH, BUT OCCURS WITH HIGHER SPEEDS AS WELL, ALTHOUGH NOT AS FREQUENTLY. (POSSIBLY COMING FROM SUB-FRAME OR SUB-FRAME BOLTS?) *TR
NHTSA ODI #10664087
100,000 miles · Dec 12, 2014
Electrical System
WHEN CAR IS STARTED LOW PRESSURE OIL LIGHT STOP ENGINE AND CAR HAS RING CHIMES TO TELL YOU TO STOP DRIVING CAR LOOKED ON LINE SEEMS LIKE A COMMON COMPLAINT .I CHECKED OIL FILLED TO PROPER LEVEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10663997
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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