NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports83,000 miles · May 27, 2010
Electrical SystemVisibility
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE REAR DEFOGGER DOES NOT WORK. NOTHING HAPPENED, IT JUST QUIT WORKING. WHEN YOU PUSH THE REAR DEFOGGER BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL, THE LIGHT LIGHTS UP SHOWING IT IS WORKING, BUT IT ISN'T WORKING ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW WITH FROST AND EVEN SNOW B…
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2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE REAR DEFOGGER DOES NOT WORK. NOTHING HAPPENED, IT JUST QUIT WORKING. WHEN YOU PUSH THE REAR DEFOGGER BUTTON ON THE FRONT PANEL, THE LIGHT LIGHTS UP SHOWING IT IS WORKING, BUT IT ISN'T WORKING ON THE REAR WINDOW. IT IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW WITH FROST AND EVEN SNOW BUILT UP ON IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332593
54,000 miles · May 10, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE GEAR SHIFT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WHEN TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED, MAKING IT HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE GEAR SHIFTER WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
NHTSA ODI #10329542
30,000 miles · May 5, 2010
Power Train
MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA SS WAS RECALLED FOR A POWER STEERING OIL LINE LEAK. WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL LINE ON THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LEAKED. THE LINE LEAKED WHERE THE RUBBER LINE WAS CRIMPED ONTO A METAL LINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. …
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MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA SS WAS RECALLED FOR A POWER STEERING OIL LINE LEAK. WHEN IT WAS ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE OIL LINE ON THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LEAKED. THE LINE LEAKED WHERE THE RUBBER LINE WAS CRIMPED ONTO A METAL LINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SEVERAL OF THESE. IT WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. SINCE THERE WAS NO OIL DRIPPING ONTO MY CONCRETE DRIVEWAY, I ASSUME THAT IT LEAKS UNDER PRESSURE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328965
58,000 miles · Apr 7, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 IMPALA - DURING THE WINTER OF 2009 I HAD TO REV THE ENGINE FOR IT TO PUT OUT HEAT. DURING THE WINTER OF 2009 CAR OVERHEATS UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOW DURING THE SPRING 2010, CAR CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT UNEXPECTEDLY. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN THE OVERHEATING FIRST STARTED. THE REPLACES ANTIFREEZE AND HOSES. IT HELP…
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2006 IMPALA - DURING THE WINTER OF 2009 I HAD TO REV THE ENGINE FOR IT TO PUT OUT HEAT. DURING THE WINTER OF 2009 CAR OVERHEATS UNEXPECTEDLY AND NOW DURING THE SPRING 2010, CAR CONTINUES TO OVERHEAT UNEXPECTEDLY. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHEN THE OVERHEATING FIRST STARTED. THE REPLACES ANTIFREEZE AND HOSES. IT HELPED FOR A WHILE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324162
44,000 miles · Mar 28, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
2006 CHEVY IMPALA CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I CALLED GM TO NOTIFIY THEM, BUT THEY MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE INVESTIGATED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE US A CHECK FOR THE CAR, BUT WE STILL HAD TO PAY OVER $2000 TO PAY OFF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY OUTSIDE WISCONSIN D…
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2006 CHEVY IMPALA CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. I CALLED GM TO NOTIFIY THEM, BUT THEY MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR IT TO BE INVESTIGATED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE US A CHECK FOR THE CAR, BUT WE STILL HAD TO PAY OVER $2000 TO PAY OFF THE CAR. THE FIRE STARTED AFTER THE CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY OUTSIDE WISCONSIN DELLS. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE , AND ONLY TOOK 13 MINUTES TO COMPLETELY DESTROY THE CAR. AT THE TIME WE WERE THE ONLY ONES TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN, BUT THE MORE CHECKING AROUND THE MORE REPORTS I SEE. ME, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR TWO CHILDREN WERE IN THE CAR WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. HOW MANY ENGINE FIRES DOES THERE HAVE TO BE BEFORE GM IS HELD RESPONSIBLE? *CN
NHTSA ODI #10322572
78,591 miles · Mar 26, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVEROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BOTH POWER STEERING AND ENGINE FAILURES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REGARDS TO THE POWER STEERING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE POWER STEERING RECALL BY REPLACING THE HOSE AND THE CLAMPS ON FEBRUARY 24…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVEROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BOTH POWER STEERING AND ENGINE FAILURES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN REGARDS TO THE POWER STEERING. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO THE POWER STEERING RECALL BY REPLACING THE HOSE AND THE CLAMPS ON FEBRUARY 24, 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 78,591.
NHTSA ODI #10322399
100 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Air BagsCrash
I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND A SUV CAME FROM THE OTHER SIDE SPUN PASSED ME AND THEN HER REAR HIT ME HEAD ON- CAUSING 12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE--MY CONCERN IS THE AIR BAGS IN MY 3WK OLD 2006 CHEVY IMPALA DID NOT DEPLOY I WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSORS WERE JUST MISSED AND I SHOULD BE HAPPY CAUSE I COULD OF BEEN INJURED MORE THAN WHAT HAD HA…
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I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND A SUV CAME FROM THE OTHER SIDE SPUN PASSED ME AND THEN HER REAR HIT ME HEAD ON- CAUSING 12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE--MY CONCERN IS THE AIR BAGS IN MY 3WK OLD 2006 CHEVY IMPALA DID NOT DEPLOY I WAS TOLD THAT THE SENSORS WERE JUST MISSED AND I SHOULD BE HAPPY CAUSE I COULD OF BEEN INJURED MORE THAN WHAT HAD HAPPENED. ALSO MY ONSTAR WAS NOT ACTIVATED-- I CALLED THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318222
28,000 miles · Mar 4, 2010
Steering
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) IM HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA!! IT HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STARTED AT 28,000 MILES. AT START UP IT WINES BAD AND YOU CAN FEEL IT TUG AND STICK IN THE STEERING AS YOU DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT DOES GET HA…
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INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) IM HAVING THIS PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA!! IT HAS JUST 30,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STARTED AT 28,000 MILES. AT START UP IT WINES BAD AND YOU CAN FEEL IT TUG AND STICK IN THE STEERING AS YOU DRIVE AT SLOW SPEEDS. IT DOES GET HARDER AT TIMES AT COLD TEMPS BUT AS IT WARMS IT FREES UP. AT TIMES IT DOES NOT WANT TO TURN IM A BIG GUY BUT MY WIFE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT. WE HAVE A 2010 CHEVROLET HHR SHE DRIVES MUST OF THE TIME. I HOPE IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PUMP... REF:(GENERAL MOTORS CO. IS RECALLING 1.3 MILLION CARS TO FIX POWER STEERING MOTORS THAT CAN FAIL. THE RECALL AFFECTS 2005 TO 2010 CHEVROLET COBALTS, 2007 TO 2010 PONTIAC G5S, 2005 AND 2006 PONTIAC PURSUITS SOLD IN CANADA AND 2005 AND 2006 PONTIAC G4S SOLD IN MEXICO. THE AUTOMAKER SAID MONDAY THE VEHICLES ARE STILL SAFE TO DRIVE AND NEVER LOSE THEIR STEERING, BUT IT MAY BE HARDER TO STEER THEM WHEN TRAVELING UNDER 15 MPH.) ITS SOUND AND FEELS LIKE ITS MORE CARS THEN WHAT IS BEING RECALLED AT THIS TIME. [XXX] GM SPOKESMAN ALAN ADLER NEED TO CHECK INTO ALL LATE MODEL CARS WITH THIS PUMP... *TR
NHTSA ODI #10316892
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2010
Steering
2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WITH A FAULTY INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WAS JUMPY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10316503
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Visibility
BUZZING NOISE FROM WINDOW COMING DOWN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315868
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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