Exterior Lighting. Review the 154 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 115 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

511 reports

109,000 miles · Mar 25, 2013

Power Train

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I WAS IN A TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND MY RPMS REVVED UP HIGH AND THEN DROPPED EVEN THOUGH I WAS ACCELERATING SMOOTHLY. I COULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 20MPH. THIS WAS A SUDDEN PROBLEM, WITH LITTLE TO NO WARNING. AFTER GETTING ONTO A LESS BUSY ROAD, I DROVE SLOWLY AS THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. THE RPMS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN. I PULLED INTO A BUSINESS TO GET OFF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO SEE IF RESTARTING THE CAR WOULD HELP. THE VEHICLE STARTED FINE BUT THERE WAS NO REVERSE. SINCE I WAS NOW STUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY, I CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK, WHICH TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DIAGNOSED THE WAVE PLATE (KNOWN ISSUE) OR THE TRANSMISSION (KNOWN ISSUE). THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT-CAUSING ISSUE IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY OR IF THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE HAD BEEN MUCH BUSIER. I USE THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY CHILDREN. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED DUE TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM AT +/- 100K FOR THIS VEHICLE. WITH MORE AND MORE OF THEM APPROACHING THIS MILEAGE EVERY YEAR... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504411

108,000 miles · Mar 20, 2013

Power Train

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MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED. SO WHEN I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT IN TO GEAR PAST 20 MILES AND HOUR. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. I TOLD HIM I HAVE RESEARCH THIS ONLINE AND IT BETTER NOT BE THIS THING CALLED A WAVEPLATE. WELL TO MY SURPRISE IT WAS. THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR $2200.00. I STATED TO HIM, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CARS THERE IS NO WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE STARTED SLIPPING SO SOON. THIS VEHICLE HAD SO MANY ISSUES AND IT IS TOO SOON FOR ME TO TRADE IT IN. BUT IF I COULD I WOULD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503800

91,000 miles · Mar 16, 2013

Power Train

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD IT WOULDNT SWITCH OUT OF 2ND GEAR. THE FASTER I WOULD GO THE HIGHER THE RPMS. I STOPPED THE CAR AT SEVERAL STOP SIGNS AND TRIED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTART IT BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO THE L POSITION AND MANUALLY SHIFT THE GEARS IT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF D. I WAS ABLE TO CREEP BACK HOME IN SECOND GEAR WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE GM REPAIR SHOP THAT HAS ALWAYS SERVICED THIS VEHICLE ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THOUGH THE WAVE PLATE WAS REPLACED APPROX A YEAR AGO. THE PARTICULAR ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE WHICH IS SOME SEAL ON THE BACK OF THE MODULE TO HOLD THE PRESSURE IS NO LONGER COVERED AND IT WILL BE A NEARLY $1300 REPAIR!!! ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THIS IS A RECALLED PART ON SEVERAL MODELS FROM THE GM BRAND BUT IT IS NOT RECALLED ON MY 2007 OUTLOOK! IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM I REALLY THINK IT WOULD BE RIGHT FOR GM TO FIX THIS PART APPARENTLY IT IS AN ISSUE ON THE 2007 AS WELL! I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH GM RIGHT NOW. MY HUSBAND OWNS A CHEVY AND I REALLY HOPED OUR LOYALTY TO THE BRAND WOULDNT BITE US IN THE BUTT. GUESS WE WILL SEE WHAT CAN BE WORKED OUT WITH THIS REPAIR BEFORE THE VERDICT ON THAT IS MADE. I AM ONLY GRATEFUL THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE I WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT BACK HOME. I HAD ALL THREE OF MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THOUGH TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT IT WAS VERY SCARY HOPING PEOPLE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO STOP AND GO AROUND US. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503273

56,000 miles · Mar 15, 2013

Power Train

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I HAVE A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK, SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IN 2011, AFTER 2 REPAIRS, A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN. 34,000 MILES LATER THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT HAS HAD 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND 7 REPAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. TODAY AFTER SPEAKING WITH CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR THE 5TH TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD ONLY ASSIST ME PARTIALLY WITH THE REPAIR. I ASKED FOR A BILL W/ DETAIL ON PARTS AND LABOR, WHAT WAS DONE ON THE LAST REPAIR THAT WENT WRONG AND WHAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD BE FOR THIS REPAIR, INCLUDING ALL PARTS AND LABOR CHARGES. NOW AT 4 DAYS LATER I HAVE NO INFORMATION, NO CAR, AND NO RESTITUTION. CUSTOMER SERVICE OFFERED TO FIND OUT ABOUT GETTING A LOANER CAR, BUT WHEN THEY ASKED THE DEALERSHIP, SHE CAME BACK TO TELL ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL HERTZ AND THEY WOULD HELP W/ THE EXPENSE. AFTER SHE SPOKE W/ THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, SHE CAME BACK TO SAY THAT THE DEALERSHIP SAID HERTZ HAD NO CARS AVAILABLE..ANYWHERE? HOW CAN AN AMERICAN CAR COMPANY, THAT WAS BAILED OUT BY TAXPAYER MONEY HAVE THIS KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE? LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE BOARDS, HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THERE ARE NOT 1000 COMPLAINTS ABOUT GM TRANSMISSIONS? HOW ARE THEY GETTING AWAY WITH THIS? WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503216

59,700 miles · Mar 8, 2013

Power Train

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MY 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK SUFFERED COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT ONLY 59,700 MILES. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ACROSS TOWN AT A RATE OF 25 MPH. CAR HAS BEEN BABIED SINCE WE GOT IT. BASICALLY AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MINI-VAN. NO OFF-ROAD ACTIVITIES. DID NOT USE IT TO PULL ANY TRAILERS OR OTHER VEHICLES. WAS A GREAT CAR UNTIL THIS OCCURRED. WARRANTY EXPIRED IN SEPT. OF 2012. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT THE "WAVE PLATES" HAD BROKEN AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. I AM NOT A MECHANIC AND DO NOT KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS, BUT I CONTACTED GM AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED GM REPAIR SPECIALIST. SO, I HAD IT TOWED AGAIN TO A GM REPAIR SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE WAVE PLATES THAT HAD FAILED. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE WAVE PLATES WERE A UNIVERSAL PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR - THEY HAD REPAIRED NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE... ALL TRANSMISSION FAILURES AT OR BEFORE 75,000 MILES. IN THEIR OPINION THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART AND THEY THOUGHT GM SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. NO CAR SHOULD HAVE A COMPLETED TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A VEHICLE THAT EARLY! GM CONTACTED THE REPAIR SHOP I WAS WORKING WITH AND INFORMED THEM THAT BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED, THE BEST THEY COULD DO WAS TO OFFER ME A "CO-PAYMENT" OF $1500 TO "REPAIR" THE TRANSMISSION. IF I WANTED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE FULL COST OF $4500 OUT OF POCKET. I OPTED TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPAIRED FOR $1500. I FELT IT WAS MY ONLY OPTION. CASH IS TIGHT AND $4500 OUT OF POCKET IS WAY TOO MUCH FOR WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART. I DID NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING AT ALL - GM BUILT A BAD VEHICLE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD ALL BE RECALLED AND THE WAVE PLATES SHOULD ALL BE REPLACED - AND ALL OF IT SHOULD BE ON GM'S TAB. SO, NHTSB, DO YOUR JOB ... PUT PRESSURE ON GM AND GET THE RECALL IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502077

62,000 miles · Mar 7, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM BULB WAS OUT. BOUGHT REPLACEMENT BULBS BUT NONE OF THEM WORKED. INSPECTED HARNESS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CONNECTOR IS MELTED/DAMAGED SOMEHOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502026

44,470 miles · Feb 17, 2013

Power Train

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I WAS DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY WITH KIDS AND WENT TO ACCELERATE AND SUV WOULD NOT GO FASTER. LUCKILY, I WAS CLOSE TO EXIT AND ABLE TO GET OFF RIGHT AWAY. THE SUV WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 25MPH SO I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME THE FINAL 3 MILES. ONCE HOME THE SUV WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR ANY HIGH GEARS. ONLY WORKS IN FIRST GEAR AT 25MPH AND RPMS AT 4000. THE CHECK EMISSION SYMBOL IS LIT ON THE DASH. RESEARCHING THIS ON INTERNET SEEMS MAJOR PROBLEM WITH WAVE PLATE BROKE AND REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498422

60,170 miles · Feb 15, 2013

Power Train

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN A NOISED EMITTED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WITH A HEAVY VIBRATION. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FRONT BOLTS WERE LOOSE AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THERE WERE TWO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA ACTION NUMBERS: 10024227 (POWER TRAIN ) AND 10042291 (POWER TRAIN ) BUT NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,170.

NHTSA ODI #10498240

78,000 miles · Feb 6, 2013

Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496619

75,000 miles · Feb 4, 2013

Exterior Lighting

I CHANGED OUT THE FRONT RIGHT HEADLIGHT. AFTER I CHANGED IT OUT, ROUGHLY TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME LIGHT WAS OUT AGAIN. I CHECKED THE LIGHT, LIGHT WAS FINE BUT WIRE HARNESS WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. AFTER PLAYING WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE HARNESS, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO WORK AGAIN. BUT LIGHT HAS NOT STAYED ON LONGER TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10496385

Official recalls

15V415000 · Structure:body:hatchback/liftgate

Jun 30, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Buick Enclave vehicles manufactured January 3, 2007, to February 29, 2012, 2009-2012 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles manufactured July 6, 2008, to March 9, 2012, 2007-2012 GMC Acadia vehicles manufactured September 15, 2006, to February 29, 2012, and 2007-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles manufactured August 17, 2006, to March 18, 2010. The affected vehicles, equipped with the power liftgate option, have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open. These struts may prematurely wear and the open liftgate may suddenly fall.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the open liftgate unexpectedly falls, it may strike a person, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the power liftgate actuator motor control unit so that the motor will prevent the rapid closing of the lift gate, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Saturn customer service at 1-800-553-6000. GM's number for this recall is 15240.

10V240000 · Electrical System

Jun 4, 2010

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Aug 28, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

08V410000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages

Aug 14, 2008

GM IS RECALLING 88,809 MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE, AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA AND SATURN OUTLOOK VEHICLES CURRENTLY OR PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE WIPERS RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE WIPER ARM, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE MAY BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MOTOR SHAFT AND THE WIPERS MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIPER CRANK ARM, DRIVER'S SIDE LINK, AND A CRANK ARM NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN O OCTOBER 13, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

07V062000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Feb 21, 2007

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM), WHICH CONTROLS THE FUNCTION OF FRONT AIR BAGS, MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL TO DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH. ALSO, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL MAY FAIL TO PROVIDE WARNING THAT THE SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO OCCUPANTS IN THE FRONT SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM COMPUTER MODULE. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GMC AT 1-866-966-9463 OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP12003 · Loss Of Headlamp Illumination

Opened Jun 4, 2012 · Closed Jul 24, 2014

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

As of July 16, 2014, out of a population of 248,453 subject vehicles, NHTSA received 473 consumer complaints of inoperative head lamp. Many of these complaints indicated that the head lamp harness suffered damage from overheating. After reviewing the complaints, ODI found: -69% (328) alleged that a single head lamp was inoperative. -18% (86) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but not at the same time. -9% (41) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative but the complaints did not indicate whether the failures had occurred at the same time. -4% (17) alleged that both head lamps were inoperative at the same time. -One additional complaint cited wire harness damage to both sides but did not specify an outage -No crashes or loss of vehicle control were reported. -Any alleged thermal damages were limited to melting of the head lamp harness and the head lamp housing. -A head lamp would intermittently fail to come on or flickers before becoming completely inoperative. For the seventeen complaints that alleged simultaneous failure of both head lamps while attempting to turn them on or while driving, the head lamp failures likely had occurred one at a time. The subject vehicle's head lamps are connected in a parallel circuit and each circuit is fused. Therefore, failure of one head lamp or its harness should not affect the other head lamp operation. Over the last 25 years, ODI has opened numerous defect investigations of the loss of headlamp illumination.Investigations that resulted in safety recalls involved simultaneous loss of illumination from both headlamps. NHTSA does not consider the loss of a single headlamp as presenting an unreasonable safety risk-such failures are readily detectable by the driver while allowing the vehicle to retain forward visibility and conspicuity from the remaining headlamp.There is typically enough time between the failure of the first headlamp and the second during which the vehicle operator can obtain the needed repairs. Based on the information currently available, NHTSA does not believe that the headlamp condition as alleged by the petitioner indicates the likelihood of a safety-related defect that would warrant a formal investigation.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to best accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.Further specifics can be found in the Federal Register Notice ODI complaint ID numbers are referenced on the next page.

EA08010 · NON-CRASH Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Jun 12, 2008 · Closed Sep 8, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System; Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery; Electrical System:wiring; Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood; Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers; Engine And Engine Cooling; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

Additional source detail variants (9)

Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery

Electrical System

Electrical System:wiring:front Underhood

Electrical System:wiring:fuses And Circuit Breakers

Electrical System:wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Engine And Engine Cooling

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:switch/wiring