NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports105,000 miles · Apr 1, 2012
Electrical SystemFire
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE ON JAN 1ST, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, SO MY WIFE PULLED OVER, WHEN MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT OF THE CAR SHE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENTED GOOD SAMARITAN CAME RUNNING OVER WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO ATTEMPT…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE GROCERY STORE ON JAN 1ST, WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, SO MY WIFE PULLED OVER, WHEN MY DAUGHTER GOT OUT OF THE CAR SHE SAW FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE GLOVE COMPARTMENTED GOOD SAMARITAN CAME RUNNING OVER WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO ATTEMPT TO PUT FIRE OUT, MY DAUGHTER CALLED 911, AND THE CRANFORD FIRE DEPT. SHOWED UP WITHIN MINUTES TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. IN THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT THEY SAID THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM FROM THE FUSE BOX. THE CAR WAS RULED A TOTAL LOSS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED, LUCKILY NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY HURT, BUT GM IS CLAIMING THEY HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS FIRE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I DISAGREE, THE CAR WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF ONLY AT A GM DEALER, AND HAD NO AFTER MARKET ACCESSORIES INSTALLED.WE HAVE SEVERAL PHOTOS TAKEN BY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE FIRE DEPT. REPORT. IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10453722
Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THE ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR IS MESSED UP. I TURN TO THE RIGHT AND MY RADIO SHUTS OFF, ALSO IF ITS DARK OUT AND MY LIGHTS ARE ON AND I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN THE LIGHTS DOWN AS I'M PRESSING THE BUTTON TO PUT THEM DOWN. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10452551
Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
IS OR WAS OR HAS THIS CAR HAD ANY RECALLS. FOR A 2006 VEH WITH ONLY 54,104 MILES ON IT AND HAVE TO PUT OUT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR WORK ON A CAR WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SO FAR (INTERCONTROL MODULE) IS NOT RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE WHOLE CAR TO NOT RESPOND AT ALL (IN LUCK WE WERE AT HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED)BUT, IF WE WERE GON…
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IS OR WAS OR HAS THIS CAR HAD ANY RECALLS. FOR A 2006 VEH WITH ONLY 54,104 MILES ON IT AND HAVE TO PUT OUT THE MONEY TO PAY FOR WORK ON A CAR WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, SO FAR (INTERCONTROL MODULE) IS NOT RIGHT. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED THE WHOLE CAR TO NOT RESPOND AT ALL (IN LUCK WE WERE AT HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED)BUT, IF WE WERE GONE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING IT SHUTS THE WHOLE CAR DOWN, THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP *KB
NHTSA ODI #10452371
84,509 miles · Mar 16, 2012
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN RAIN. 2ND FAILURE IN 19 MONTHS. WIPER TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY REPLACED BOTH TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451891
58,773 miles · Mar 6, 2012
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, HARD SHIFTS, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE IT'S NOT IN GEAR, DOESN'T ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 2,000 RPM THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. ALSO SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND AGAIN WHEN IN 4TH GEAR. *TR TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN TO ANY GEAR WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, HARD SHIFTS, BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS. TRANSMISSION ACTS LIKE IT'S NOT IN GEAR, DOESN'T ENGAGE UNTIL ABOUT 2,000 RPM THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR. ALSO SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND AGAIN WHEN IN 4TH GEAR. *TR TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO FULLY ENGAGE IN TO ANY GEAR WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, IT WILL SLIP AND CATCH FROM A STOP, THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILS TO LOCK UP AND ALL GEARS SLIP UNDER MODERATE TO HEAVY ACCELERATION.
NHTSA ODI #10450563
52,617 miles · Mar 2, 2012
Air Bags
THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT MY PROBLEM, THE MESSAGE SERVICE AIRBAG COMES UP ON THE DASH BENEATH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THE AIR BAG IS OFF EVEN WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT, WILL COST ME $992.50 TO FIX, JUST FOR A CENSOR THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE A COMPUTER, NOT A…
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THE REPLACEMENT SENSOR WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT MY PROBLEM, THE MESSAGE SERVICE AIRBAG COMES UP ON THE DASH BENEATH THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THE AIR BAG IS OFF EVEN WITH THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT, WILL COST ME $992.50 TO FIX, JUST FOR A CENSOR THIS SEEMS MORE LIKE A COMPUTER, NOT AN ITTY BITTY SENSOR. SOUNDS LIKE AN ENGINEERING DESIGN OVER-KILL, $992.50 REALLY, THIS IS UNREAL FOR A SENSOR!!!! SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE. IT ONLY TAKES 8/10THS OF AN HOUR TO FIX IT. THAT IS WHY I CALL IT AN ENGINEERING DESIGN OVER-KILL!!! I CAN SEE A COMPUTER COSTING $992.50 TO FIX, BUT NOT A CENSOR WHICH ONLY TAKES 8/10THS OF AN HOUR TO FIX. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10450107
25,000 miles · Feb 27, 2012
Parking BrakeService Brakes, Hydraulic
THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD. WE HAD IT SERVICED BY CHEVROLET TWO TIMES AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS THE BRAKE STOPPED HOLDING AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449476
15 miles · Feb 24, 2012
Exterior LightingPower Train
AT THE TIME MY CHEVY HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, SO I GOT IT REBUILT IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN A YEAR A NOW THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS STALLING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AT TIMES. ALSO WHEN USING MY TURN SIGNAL TO TURN JUST AS THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENS UP AND THE TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF IT TRIGGERS THE HIGH BEAMS TO CO…
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AT THE TIME MY CHEVY HAD 105,000 MILES ON IT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, SO I GOT IT REBUILT IT HASN'T QUITE BEEN A YEAR A NOW THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS STALLING AND NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY AT TIMES. ALSO WHEN USING MY TURN SIGNAL TO TURN JUST AS THE WHEEL STRAIGHTENS UP AND THE TURN SIGNAL TURNS OFF IT TRIGGERS THE HIGH BEAMS TO COME ON, THIS ONLY HAPPENS IF IT'S COLD OUT OR RAINING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10449186
134,000 miles · Feb 17, 2012
Structure
REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. TRIED UNLOCKING AND LOCKING SEVERAL TIMES. SON WAS STUCK IN CAR SEAT UNTIL I COULD GET HIM OUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WAS A CRASH AND I COULD NOT GET HIM OUT. HAVE SEEN LOTS OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. SEEMS LI…
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REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. TRIED UNLOCKING AND LOCKING SEVERAL TIMES. SON WAS STUCK IN CAR SEAT UNTIL I COULD GET HIM OUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THERE WAS A CRASH AND I COULD NOT GET HIM OUT. HAVE SEEN LOTS OF OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE INTERNET. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOUDL BE ADDRESSED OR SOMEONE WILL END UP GETTING KILLED BECASUE THEY COULD NOT GET OUT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448295
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. CONSUMER STATES FAILURE OF VEHICLE AIRBAG IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HAD THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HER INJURIES MAY HAVE BEEN LESS SERIOUS. **JB
NHTSA ODI #10447632
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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