NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reportsMileage unknown · Dec 28, 2011
Steering
MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 37000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER HAS HAD A CRACKING NOISE IN THE STEERING LIKE YOU WOULD GET IF THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. IT IS NOTICED MORE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS THEN AT FAST SPEED. IT IS ALSO QUITE NOTICEABLE IF YOU ARE JUST CREEPING ALONG AND TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THI…
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MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH 37000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER HAS HAD A CRACKING NOISE IN THE STEERING LIKE YOU WOULD GET IF THERE WAS A LOOSE CONNECTION IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. IT IS NOTICED MORE AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS THEN AT FAST SPEED. IT IS ALSO QUITE NOTICEABLE IF YOU ARE JUST CREEPING ALONG AND TAPPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR THE LAST NINE MONTHS. I HAVE NOT HAD A DEALER LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN A ACCIDENT DURING THIS TIME NOR HAS THERE BEEN AN INJURY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING OTHER REPORTS CONCERNING THE 2006 IMPALA STEERING. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT RECALL SHOULD BE IN ORDER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441559
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2011
Steering
CONSEQUENCE: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10441275
94,120 miles · Dec 22, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SYSTEM LIGHT ALWAYS COMING ON,WHEN DRIVING ON THE ROAD. REPLACE ABS SENOR AND NEW BRAKE SHOE, AND LIGHT STILL ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440929
21,000 miles · Dec 20, 2011
Steering
I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE WITH MY 2006 IMPALA AROUND 21,000 MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DONE SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND S…
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I HAVE BEEN HEARING A CLUNKING NOISE WITH MY 2006 IMPALA AROUND 21,000 MILES. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE CHEVY DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE RACK AND PINION SYSTEM THAT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AT THIS TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FOUR YEARS OLD AND NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I DONE SOME FURTHER RESEARCH AND SPOKE TO A FEW OTHER IMPALA OWNERS AND THEY HAD THE SAME ISSUE, AND HAD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. I BROUGHT IT TO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER AND SELF DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND THEY AGREED WITH ME. I HAD IT CHANGED WITH 28,000 MILES ON IT. I CONTACTED CHEVY AND ASKED HOW THIS PART CAN FAIL WITH SO FEW MILES. THEY BLAME IT ON WEAR AND TEAR AND DIDN'T WANT TO GIVE ME ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MANY IMPALA AND LUMINA LINES FOR YEARS, AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440820
32,000 miles · Dec 19, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility
MY TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW. I WILL HEAR A GROWLING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES OR GET A FOUL SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE DEFROST, ALSO WHEN I GET THAT SMELL THE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY THEN LATER THE ABS, TR…
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MY TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST LIGHT CONTINUE TO COME ON DESPITE THE FACT THAT I HAVE HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED 3 TIMES NOW. I WILL HEAR A GROWLING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON THE BRAKES OR GET A FOUL SMELL WHEN I TURN ON THE DEFROST, ALSO WHEN I GET THAT SMELL THE DEFROST DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY THEN LATER THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE ASSIST LIGHT WILL COME ON. I HAVE HAD A CHEVY DEALER AND THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM CHECK THE PROBLEM AND SAY ITS FIXED 3 TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440502
102,000 miles · Dec 15, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE CAR STRUCK A BRICK WALL AT ABOUT 45 MILES AND HOUR IN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDEAND THE DRIVERS AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN WHICH THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD TRAUMA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10440064
51,000 miles · Dec 14, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILURE CLUTCHES WORN SLIPPING, HAD TO HAVE WHOLE TRANNY REBUILT, TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER 8 MONTHS AGO AFTER IT WAS SLIPPING AND BANGING INTO GEAR AND WHINING NOISE (WHICH WAS THE BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION BEING WORN, CHEVY DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG SENT ME HOME.. 8MONTHS LATER AND $2,600 LATER HAD TO HAVE IT REBU…
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TRANSMISSION FAILURE CLUTCHES WORN SLIPPING, HAD TO HAVE WHOLE TRANNY REBUILT, TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER 8 MONTHS AGO AFTER IT WAS SLIPPING AND BANGING INTO GEAR AND WHINING NOISE (WHICH WAS THE BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION BEING WORN, CHEVY DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG SENT ME HOME.. 8MONTHS LATER AND $2,600 LATER HAD TO HAVE IT REBUILT BY PRIVATE TRANSMISSION SHOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10439852
48,000 miles · Dec 2, 2011
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire
WHITE SPADE CONNECTOR FOR REAR DEFROSTER WIRE BURNT/MELTED INSIDE CONNECTOR HARNESS. LOCATED UNDER PASSENGER SIDE KICKPLATE UNDER FUSE PANEL 2006 CHEVY IMPALA. POSSIBLE SMALL ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO IMPROPER CONNECTOR UNABLE TO SUPPORT REAR DEFROST ELECTRICAL AMPERAGE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10438090
Mileage unknown · Nov 15, 2011
Power TrainSteering
I GOT MY CAR MARCH 2006 RAN SMOOTH FOR TWO YEARS THEN PROBLEMS STARTED. FIRST MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL . NEXT WHEN I TURN ON MY HEAT OR A.C LOUD TAPPING SOUNDS OCCUR FOR ABOUT 5MINS. THIRD WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MAKE A POPPING SOUND. AND THE WORST OF ALL MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. EVERYONE I KNOW WITH …
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I GOT MY CAR MARCH 2006 RAN SMOOTH FOR TWO YEARS THEN PROBLEMS STARTED. FIRST MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL . NEXT WHEN I TURN ON MY HEAT OR A.C LOUD TAPPING SOUNDS OCCUR FOR ABOUT 5MINS. THIRD WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT IT MAKE A POPPING SOUND. AND THE WORST OF ALL MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. EVERYONE I KNOW WITH CHEVY IMPALA ARE HAVING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. SOMETHING NEED TO BE DONE!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435654
100,010 miles · Oct 19, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD AND WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT HARD AND WOULD REMAIN STUCK IN A CERTAIN GEAR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 124,906 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,010.
NHTSA ODI #10430865
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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