NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports40,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability ControlFuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM ADHESIVE LAYER. THE VEHICLE HAS…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM ADHESIVE LAYER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/07/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRIP COMPUTER, TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. ALSO ALL OF THE LIGHTS FLASH AT TIMES AND STAY ON. UPDATED 12/09/09
NHTSA ODI #10284747
62,000 miles · Aug 11, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
I AM A DEPUTY SHERIFF AND WAS DRIVING A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ENDING UP IN A DITCH. DURING THE COLLISION MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED FRACTURING MY STERNUM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ALONG WITH BREAKING A RIB. SINCE THE COLLISION I RECEIVED MY MRI RESULT FINDING I ALSO HAVE TWO COMPACTED DISKS IN MY NECK AND A COMPA…
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I AM A DEPUTY SHERIFF AND WAS DRIVING A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE ENDING UP IN A DITCH. DURING THE COLLISION MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED FRACTURING MY STERNUM FROM TOP TO BOTTOM ALONG WITH BREAKING A RIB. SINCE THE COLLISION I RECEIVED MY MRI RESULT FINDING I ALSO HAVE TWO COMPACTED DISKS IN MY NECK AND A COMPACTED DISK IN MY LOWER BACK. I AM AN AVERAGE SIZE MAN 5'9" TALL 190 POUNDS VERY PHYSICALLY ACTIVE AND WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AND A BULLET PROOF VEST. THE "BLACK BOX" IN THE VEHICLE SHOWED THE IMPACT WAS AT 11 MPH. ACCORDING TO MY DOCTOR THE BREAK TO MY STERNUM WOULD TAKE A MASSIVE FORCE WHICH WAS ALSO VERIFIED BY MY PULMONARY SPECIALIST.. I HAVE INVESTIGATED HUNDREDS OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS AS A PEACE OFFICER AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HEARD OF AN AIRBAG BREAKING SOMEONE'S STERNUM OR RIB(S). I STRONGLY FEEL IF A ELDERLY PERSON, TEENAGER, WOMAN OR SHORT INDIVIDUAL WOULD MORE SERIOUSLY BE INJURED IF THEY RECEIVE THE IMPACT I DID. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10280132
18,000 miles · Aug 3, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED FORWARD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED FORWARD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000.
NHTSA ODI #10279256
26,549 miles · Jul 17, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 26,455 MILES,CALLED DEALER THINKING IT WOULD BE COVER UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED BRAKES ARE ONLY COVERED UP TO 7,500 MILES NOT THE 36,000 MILES. TOOK ROTORS TO PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM TURNED AND THEY WOULD NOT DO IT STATING THEY WERE MADE OUT OF JUNK AND WOULD BE BETTER OFF REPLACI…
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WHEN FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED AT 26,455 MILES,CALLED DEALER THINKING IT WOULD BE COVER UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER STATED BRAKES ARE ONLY COVERED UP TO 7,500 MILES NOT THE 36,000 MILES. TOOK ROTORS TO PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP TO HAVE THEM TURNED AND THEY WOULD NOT DO IT STATING THEY WERE MADE OUT OF JUNK AND WOULD BE BETTER OFF REPLACING WITH NEW ROTORS WHICH I DID HOPING FOR BETTER RESULTS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10277091
Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2009
Unknown Or Other
BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN MAY 2006 & HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 25X PLUS. THE VEHICLE IS E-85 HOWEVER UNLESS I WANT TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOT RUN THAT KIND OF FUEL IN THE CAR. THE TRAILING ARM BUSTED IN HALF 4/09. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WHO SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE TRAILING…
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BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN MAY 2006 & HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP 25X PLUS. THE VEHICLE IS E-85 HOWEVER UNLESS I WANT TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOT RUN THAT KIND OF FUEL IN THE CAR. THE TRAILING ARM BUSTED IN HALF 4/09. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WHO SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE TRAILING ARM BUSTING WERE NOT CONSIDERED LIFE THREATENING THEY COULD NOT CONSIDER THE CAR A LEMON. I HAVE CONTACTED GMC & BOB BROWN CHEVY IN URBANDALE, IA REGARD THE ABOVE ISSUES. HOWEVER ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS PATCHUP THE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF COMPLETELY CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION & PARTS TO FOLLOW UP WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE STATED PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10276103
41,214 miles · Jul 2, 2009
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT IS PARKING OR TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,214.
NHTSA ODI #10275638
47,581 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Visibility
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF ALONG WITH WINDOW CLEANER SPRAYING NON STOP, THIS ALSO CAUSED TURN SIGNALS TO STOP WORKING AND KEYS TO BE LOCKED INTO CAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE WITH ALL THE SPRAYING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10274640
70,000 miles · Jun 8, 2009
Steering
WE HAVE A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. IT LOCKS UP AT VARYING SPEEDS AND VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. YESTERDAY WE WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. THE MECHANICS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE ALONG SIDE US WHEN WE CROSSED THE OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273126
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE A 2006 IMPALA WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HEATER OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT PRODUCE HEAT UNLESS YOU ARE REVVING ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED DEFECTIVELY SUCH THAT IT IS PRONE TO AIR POCKETS. IF AIR POCKET DEVELOPS, CHEVY HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DETAILING A COMPLICATED PROCEDU…
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I HAVE A 2006 IMPALA WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THE HEATER OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT PRODUCE HEAT UNLESS YOU ARE REVVING ENGINE. PROBLEM IS THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM IS DESIGNED DEFECTIVELY SUCH THAT IT IS PRONE TO AIR POCKETS. IF AIR POCKET DEVELOPS, CHEVY HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN DETAILING A COMPLICATED PROCEDURE WHEREBY THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE DRAINED AND ANTIFREEZE THEN PUT BACK IN SYSTEM. IF A MECHANIC IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS SERVICE BULLETIN, HE MAY TELL YOU ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET, INCORRECT ANTIFREEZE MIXTURE, ETC. THIS PROBLEM MAY REOCCUR EVERYTIME THE CLOSED SYSTEM IS OPENED IF NOT THEN CLOSED AS PER THE SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10269434
8,700 miles · May 18, 2009
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO ROUTINELY REPLACE THE BATTERY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BATTERY DROPPED BELOW 8 VOLTS, IT LOCKED THE TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAS TO ROUTINELY REPLACE THE BATTERY. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BATTERY DROPPED BELOW 8 VOLTS, IT LOCKED THE TRANSMISSION AND PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,700. UPDATED 05/21/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD A GARMIN GPS PLUGGED IN MOST OF THE TIME WHICH DRAINED THE BATTERY, BUT IT SHOULDN'T RESULT IN DEAD CELLS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAD SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BATTERY. UPDATED 05/27/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10269033
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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