NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports76,700 miles · Mar 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THE OTHER DAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED BECAUSE IT STOPPED GETTING HOT AND I WAS PUTTING ANTIFREEZE IN IT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. IT WOULD ONLY GET HOT IF I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS OR WAS DRIVING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS OFTEN. THEY TOLD M…
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I TOOK MY CAR TO THE SHOP THE OTHER DAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED BECAUSE IT STOPPED GETTING HOT AND I WAS PUTTING ANTIFREEZE IN IT ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. IT WOULD ONLY GET HOT IF I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS OR WAS DRIVING. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LEAKING FROM MY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS OFTEN. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SHOULD FIX IT. IM GOING TO GO TO THE CHEVY DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WILL FIX IT OR NOT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260645
50,000 miles · Feb 24, 2009
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.. JERKING WHEN TRYING TO BACK IN A PARKING SPACE. SEALS HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LEAK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259773
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; 1 QT EVERY 1500 MILES. IMPALA 2006 SS. 5.3L. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258801
45,500 miles · Feb 16, 2009
Steering
ON FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2009 I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ON MY 2006 IMPALA LTZ MILEAGE 45,500. WHILE DRIVING ON A DUAL LANE HWY. WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ALLOWED I TRIED TO TURN LEFT, STEERING VERY STIFF I PULLED OVER, RAISED HOOD SAW SMOKE, CALLED DEALER WAS TOLD COULD NOT GET REPAIRS UNTIL MONDAY. I CALLED TOW TRUCK AS IT WAS …
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ON FRIDAY, JAN. 23, 2009 I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING ON MY 2006 IMPALA LTZ MILEAGE 45,500. WHILE DRIVING ON A DUAL LANE HWY. WHEN THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ALLOWED I TRIED TO TURN LEFT, STEERING VERY STIFF I PULLED OVER, RAISED HOOD SAW SMOKE, CALLED DEALER WAS TOLD COULD NOT GET REPAIRS UNTIL MONDAY. I CALLED TOW TRUCK AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ASKED ABOUT A LOANER CAR, NONE AVAILABLE, EXTENDED WARRANTY PAID ALL BUT DEDUCTIBLE. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON MONDAY SEEMED OKAY, AFTER LEAVING WORK PLACE TUESDAY AFTERNOON, LOST MY STEERING AGAIN WAS ABLE TO DRIVE BACK TO DEALER ABOUT FIVE MILES, WAS TOLD THE HOSE HADN'T SEATED PROPERLY TOOK AN HOUR FOR REPAIRS THIS TIME. TODAY STIFFNESS RETURNING. WILL LOOK FOR ANOTHER CAR SOON, LOST CONFIDENCE IN GMC PRODUCTS. PLEASE RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258768
69,615 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH REQUIRED THE FRONT BRAKES TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 33,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE USE OF INFERIOR METAL FOR THE ROTORS WHICH COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY BRAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN EXITING FROM A HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE…
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I HAVE A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA WHICH REQUIRED THE FRONT BRAKES TO HAVE THE ROTORS MACHINED AND REPLACED 3 TIMES IN THE FIRST 33,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE USE OF INFERIOR METAL FOR THE ROTORS WHICH COULD NOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT GENERATED BY BRAKING, ESPECIALLY WHEN EXITING FROM A HIGHWAY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT OUTER TIE RODS REQUIRED REPLACEMENT IN THE FIRST 65,000 MILES OF DRIVING BECAUSE THEY HAD BECOME WORN OUT WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO BE LOOSE OR "WOBBLY." *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258363
51,000 miles · Feb 11, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower TrainFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR FAILURES WITH THE HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR, THE GEAR SHIFT CHANGING INCORRECTLY, AND THE TIRE MONITOR INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATING. ON JANUARY 30, 2008, THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES. SHE THEN PULLED INTO T…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR FAILURES WITH THE HEATER BLOWING COOL AIR, THE GEAR SHIFT CHANGING INCORRECTLY, AND THE TIRE MONITOR INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATING. ON JANUARY 30, 2008, THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES. SHE THEN PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. SHE QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED AND CAUSED THE FLUID TO LEAK. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000.
NHTSA ODI #10258309
76,003 miles · Feb 9, 2009
Steering
I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WAS LIMITED. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY COLD MORNING, AND IT STARTED WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID WHEN I STOPPED AND IT SEEMED FINE. A WEEK LATER, I PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING! MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS LOW. WH…
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I PULLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR'S POWER STEERING WAS LIMITED. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY COLD MORNING, AND IT STARTED WORKING PROPERLY. I CHECKED THE FLUID WHEN I STOPPED AND IT SEEMED FINE. A WEEK LATER, I PULL OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND THE SAME THING! MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE FLUID AND IT WAS LOW. WHEN I RETURNED HOME, NOT ONLY WAS THERE A BUNCH OF FLUID ON THE DRIVEWAY, BUT YOU COULD SEE HOW I PULLED OUT AND THE STREAM OF FLUID OF WHERE I WENT. THANK GOODNESS, I LEARNED TO DRIVE ON A JEEP THAT HAD NO POWER STEERING!!! IF IT HAD BEEN ONE OF MY TEENAGERS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO STEP UP AND PLACE A RECALL ON THESE HOSES!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258138
Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspension
I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE FROM THE BEGINNING, THE HEATER WILL NOT HEAT UP AND WHEN IT DOES IT GOES COLD UNLESS YOU ARE PRESSING THE GAS AND WILL NOT DEFROST AND IT KEEPS LOSING FLUID SO THEY REPLACE THE RADIATOR CAP.IT HAS A BAD SHIMMY AND A POPPING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAS LESS THEN 45,000 I R…
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I HAVE ONLY HAD MY CAR FOR 9 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TROUBLE FROM THE BEGINNING, THE HEATER WILL NOT HEAT UP AND WHEN IT DOES IT GOES COLD UNLESS YOU ARE PRESSING THE GAS AND WILL NOT DEFROST AND IT KEEPS LOSING FLUID SO THEY REPLACE THE RADIATOR CAP.IT HAS A BAD SHIMMY AND A POPPING IN THE STEERING WHEEL IT HAS LESS THEN 45,000 I REALLY THINK THEY NEED TO CHECK IN ON ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THE 2006 IMPALA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257582
30,000 miles · Feb 4, 2009
Steering
LAST MARCH, 2008 POWER STEERING WENT OUT OF CAR, SO TOOK TO MECHANIC. AFTER PAYING OVER $400 TO REPAIR HOSE AND POWER STEERING PUMP ON CAR THAT HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES. NOW IN FEBRUARY OF 2009, LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT AGAIN. I SEE THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOU…
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LAST MARCH, 2008 POWER STEERING WENT OUT OF CAR, SO TOOK TO MECHANIC. AFTER PAYING OVER $400 TO REPAIR HOSE AND POWER STEERING PUMP ON CAR THAT HAD ONLY 30,000 MILES. NOW IN FEBRUARY OF 2009, LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT AGAIN. I SEE THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING. I THINK GM SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT AND LAUNCH A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT SERIOUSLY OR WORSE KILLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257510
29,733 miles · Jan 21, 2009
Steering
WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING "WENT OUT" ON MY CAR AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I SENSED THE STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING, WAS ON A VERY STRAIGHT ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR AND BRING IT TO A STOP. HAD I BEEN ON A ROAD WITH CURVES, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSH…
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WITHOUT WARNING, THE POWER STEERING "WENT OUT" ON MY CAR AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I SENSED THE STIFFNESS IN THE STEERING, WAS ON A VERY STRAIGHT ROAD, AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR AND BRING IT TO A STOP. HAD I BEEN ON A ROAD WITH CURVES, I WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE HAD A BAD ACCIDENT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP I NOTED THIS ON THE DESCRIPTION: "CUSTOMER STATES CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING. CAUSE: IMPROPERLY SEALED. " FURTHER: "DIAGNOSE AND REPLACE SPLIT POWER STEERING COOLER PIPE HOSE AND PER BULLETIN 060232014." I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A REFERENCE THAT IS STRICTLY "HOW TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM" OR IF THIS INDICATES THAT THIS IS A NOTED PROBLEM. IF SO, IT SHOULD BE A RECALL! MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 30,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN VERY CONSERVATIVELY. IF THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH ANY FREQUENCY, THEN IT IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT REQUIRES A RECALL. WHEN THE POWER STEERING GOES OUT COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING, AND YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR A ROAD WITH CURVES, A SERIOUS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IS BOUND TO OCCUR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255838
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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