NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
524 reports68,000 miles · Dec 3, 2008
Electrical System
BATTERY DIED. MY CAR IS AN 2006. I WORK APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM WORK GOING AND COMING. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN FEBRUARY 2007. IN AUGUST 2008 BY BATTERY DIED. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE FOR 89.00. I BELIEVE SOMETHING IN THE CAR IS CAUSING THE BATTERIES TO DIE IN THE CAR AS I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE WITH…
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BATTERY DIED. MY CAR IS AN 2006. I WORK APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES FROM WORK GOING AND COMING. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN FEBRUARY 2007. IN AUGUST 2008 BY BATTERY DIED. I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ONE FOR 89.00. I BELIEVE SOMETHING IN THE CAR IS CAUSING THE BATTERIES TO DIE IN THE CAR AS I HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER PEOPLE WITH IMPALA THAT HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THEM REPLACED IN A LITTLE OVER A YEAR TIME PERIOD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10250603
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON LONG INCLINE CAR'S FRONT-END AND INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE VERY BADLY. GM DEALERSHIP HAS MADE 6 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR WITHOUT SUCCESS. GM FELT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ELSE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. CASH SETTLEMENT WAS MADE. WE STILL HAVE WHAT FEELS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELS…
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WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ON LONG INCLINE CAR'S FRONT-END AND INCLUDING THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATE VERY BADLY. GM DEALERSHIP HAS MADE 6 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR WITHOUT SUCCESS. GM FELT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ELSE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. CASH SETTLEMENT WAS MADE. WE STILL HAVE WHAT FEELS LIKE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO AND WOULD APPRECIATE ANY SUGGESTIONS. THE PROBLEM BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249596
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 2008
Electrical System
KEYLESS ENTRY/REMOTE STARTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249545
18,000 miles · Nov 18, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS IN JULY OF 2007. IN MAY OF 2008, THE FRONT ROTORS FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY ST…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE FRONT ROTORS OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT ROTORS IN JULY OF 2007. IN MAY OF 2008, THE FRONT ROTORS FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WILL NEED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER GIVING HIM A DISCOUNT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
NHTSA ODI #10249168
43,500 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringSuspension
I HAVE A 2006 SS IMPALA I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ON GOING PROBLEMS. 1ST WATERPUMP WENT OUT THEN 2ND DRIVER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED 3RD POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED 4TH BATTERY WENT DEAD 5TH POWER STEERING HOSE OUT AGAIN AND TIE ROD ON PASSENGER NEEDS REPLACED ALSO. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR AND ITS PROBLEMS!THESE HAVE BEEN ON GOING PR…
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I HAVE A 2006 SS IMPALA I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT ON GOING PROBLEMS. 1ST WATERPUMP WENT OUT THEN 2ND DRIVER TIE ROD WAS REPLACED 3RD POWERSTEERING HOSE REPLACED 4TH BATTERY WENT DEAD 5TH POWER STEERING HOSE OUT AGAIN AND TIE ROD ON PASSENGER NEEDS REPLACED ALSO. I'M SO FED UP WITH THIS CAR AND ITS PROBLEMS!THESE HAVE BEEN ON GOING PROBLEMS SINCE 2006. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249061
Mileage unknown · Sep 25, 2008
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SIDE FRONT AND REAR CENTER SEAT BELTS ARE FRAYING AND TEARING UNDER NORMAL USE AND BEING TOLD THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY CHEVROLET DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243404
49,000 miles · Sep 15, 2008
Suspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,681 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, HE HEARD A LOUD BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,681 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
NHTSA ODI #10242225
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2008
Fuel System, Other
MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA, EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP MY GAS TANK MAKE A LOUD NOISE BY HITTING THE TRUNK UNDER THE CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10242081
5,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages
RECALL ON SOMETHING IN THE BRAIN OF THE CAR (IT'S COMPUTER).ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER CAR STARTED LOSING POWER ON THE FREEWAY GOING TWENTY FIVE AND THE RPM'S AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO IN THE RED, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO AN ?ELECTRICAL? PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE TRAN…
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RECALL ON SOMETHING IN THE BRAIN OF THE CAR (IT'S COMPUTER).ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER CAR STARTED LOSING POWER ON THE FREEWAY GOING TWENTY FIVE AND THE RPM'S AS HIGH AS IT COULD GO IN THE RED, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AFTER MAKING A LOUD NOISE REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO AN ?ELECTRICAL? PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY NEW CAR 1 WEEK LATER CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF! KEY OUT AND IT WAS STILL RUNNING KILL BATTERY SEVERAL TIMES SPEAKERS ARE NOT PROPERLY WORKING ALONG WITH THE FACTORY ALARM 2 MONTHS LATER THE CAR DID IT AGAIN I CAN'T EVEN GET THE CAR TO LOCK PERIOD, EVERY TIME I MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS, THEY AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCK I'M DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND IT TOTALLY JUST OVER HEATS AND CUTS OF IN ALL OF FIVE SECONDS WITH A BIG CITY BUS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THIS STARTS JULY 3RD, 2008 THE CAR WILL NOT CUT OFF, NOT EVEN WHEN MY HUSBAND PULLED ITS FUSE, PERIOD, IT JUST KEPT RUNNING TILL THE BATTERY DIED AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. JULY 10TH, 2008 THEY CALL ME TO PICK MY CAR UP, IT'S READY AGAIN!!! JULY 11TH, 2008 THEY HAD TO TOW IT BACK BECAUSE THE CAR OVERHEATED, THEN WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND THE ENGINE STATED IT HAD LOW POWER, WHAT EVER THAT MEANS...GRRRRHHHH!!! AUGUST 27TH, 2008 THE CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF, EVEN ONCE WE PULLED THE FUSE, THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO JUMP OUT AND THE DASH BOARD WAS READING ALL TYPES OF CRAZY MESSAGES!!! THIS CAR REALLY SCARES ME! I'M LOOKING FOR AN ATTORNEY TO HELP ME WITH THIS, I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE, THIS WAS 8 TIMES TOO MANY AND NOW THAT I'M LESS THEN 10K FROM MY WARRANTY BEING I FEEL LIKE S & J HAS BEEN SCAMMING ME!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240954
5,000 miles · Sep 4, 2008
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine Cooling
I'M A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER OF S&J SINCE CHILDHOOD AND MY MOTHER PURCHASED HER VEHICLES THERE. UP TO THIS POINT I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO DO HONEST WORK ON MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA. INDEED THIS DID NOT HAPPEN! MY VEHICLE HAS RETURNED ABOUT 8 TIMES FOR SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. FERNADO IS A GREAT CUSTOMER ATTENDAN…
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I'M A FAITHFUL CUSTOMER OF S&J SINCE CHILDHOOD AND MY MOTHER PURCHASED HER VEHICLES THERE. UP TO THIS POINT I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO DO HONEST WORK ON MY 2006 CHEVY IMPALA. INDEED THIS DID NOT HAPPEN! MY VEHICLE HAS RETURNED ABOUT 8 TIMES FOR SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEM. FERNADO IS A GREAT CUSTOMER ATTENDANT, BUT HE DOES NOT WORK ON MY CAR, SO WHAT I FEEL IS NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS HIM. HERE IS A LIST OF CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT I HAVE INQUIRED SINCE OWNERSHIP OF MY "NEW-USED" CHEVY IN FEB. 2007. I HAVE A NEW CHEVY IMPALA. WITHIN A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 8 TIMES FOR MAJOR REPAIRS (NONE DUE TO MY OWN FAULT)! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10240951
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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