Exterior Lighting. Review the 247 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 164 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 127 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports19 fire reports3 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

97 reports

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64,945 miles · Sep 4, 2014

Air Bags

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SATURN OUTLOOK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE CODE IN THE SIR MODULE. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SENSOR MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,945...UPDATED 09-24-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL, THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NOT THE SAME AND THE SOLDERED THE CONNECTIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. UPDATED 10/21/14

NHTSA ODI #10630782

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2014

Air Bags

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I HAD BEEN NOTICING THE SERVICE AIR BAG NOTIFICATION ON MY DASH BOARD. DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. BROUGHT IT INTO HAWTHORNE, NJ CHEVROLET AND THEY TOOK OUT THE SEATS AND TESTED THE CONNECTIONS AND CHARGED ME FOR THIS SERVICE. ABOUT 2-3 WKS LATER, THE SAME NOTICE CAME UP ON MY DASH BOARD. BROUGHT IT BACK INTO HAWTHORNE CHEVY AND THEY DID WHATEVER AND SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING AND DIDN'T CHARGE ME. I KEPT ASKING IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND EVERY TIME THE ANSWER WAS NO. IT IS NOW AUGUST AND THE SAME SERVICE AIR BAG NOTIFICATION HAS POPPED UP AGAIN. I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK INTO CHEVY TO SEE WHAT THEY CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10629039

65,000 miles · Aug 1, 2014

Air Bags

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IN APRIL 2014, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR BEGIN TO READ: "OFF" WHILE THE PASSENGER WAS IN THE SEAT. SOMETIMES IT SAYS "ON" AT FIRST, THEN SWITCHES TO "OFF". VERY FEW TIMES HAS IT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE APRIL. (NOW AUGUST 1ST). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE SIDE AIRBAG RECALL AND WAS HOPING IT WAS RELATED TO THE PASSENGER SEAT.. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED IT WAS A TOTALLY SEPARATE ISSUE. COST TO JUST CHECK IT COST ME $105. 3 HOURS LATER, THE ADVISOR INFORMED ME IT WOULD COST OVER $500 OR MORE TO REPLACE. I DECLINED. SEEMS LIKE GM WOULD INCLUDE THIS AS A RECALL, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WITH VEHICLES INDICATING "OFF". KNOWING YOU DON'T HAVE A PRIMARY AIRBAG THAT DOESN'T DEPLOY, I WOULD THINK THIS WOULD BE AN EXTREMELY HIGH RISK ISSUE AND WOULD BE ON THE TOP OF GM'S LIST OF RECALLS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618072

105,000 miles · Jul 27, 2014

Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG NOTICE IS CONSTANTLY ON (DASHBOARD MESSAGE) AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ALSO CONSTANTLY ON. SO IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALER INITIALLY ORDERED A DIFFERENT PART AND MISDIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM REQUIRING 3 DIFFERENT VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE CENTER NOW SAYING THAT …

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NHTSA ODI #10616622

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2014

Air Bags

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GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST THE GM DEALERS IN LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY. I RECEIVED MY LETTER STATING THAT THE GM DEALERS' SERVICE DEPARTMENTS IN MY AREA HAS RECEIVED THE PARTS FOR MY RECALL. I CONTACTED ROD HATFIELD CHEVROLET ON NEW CIRCLE RD BY EMAIL TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT OVER A MONTH AGO (6/27/14). I SET UP A SATURDAY APPOINTMENT AND THEN WAS CONTACTED BY THE EMAIL REPRESENTATIVE [XXX]. HE CONTACTED ME BY EMAIL STATING THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS FOR MY RECALL AND I WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE PARTS ARRIVE. I STILL HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND MY "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR THREE WEEKS. I ALSO SENT EMAIL TO GLENN NISSAN/AUTOMALL ON RICHMOND ROAD) WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE) ABOUT THE RECALL PARTS OVER TWO WEEKS AGO. AS OF TODAY I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN EMAIL, PHONE CALL, NOTHING IN REFERENCE TO THE RECALL PARTS OR MY EMAIL FROM THEIR ONLINE WEBSITE. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY WHILE I AM DRIVING AND MY PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEATS OR IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT? THE RECALL STATES IF THIS LIGHT SHOULD ACTIVATE, THEN I NEED TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER RIGHT AWAY. WHAT SHOULD I DO SINCE NEITHER OF THE TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE CONTACTED ME? PLEASE SEND ME SUGGESTIONS OF OTHER GM SERVICE DEPARTMENTS THAT SHOULD HAVE THE RECALL PARTS SO THAT I MAY TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THEM ASAP. I ALSO WILL NEED A VEHICLE TO DRIVE DURING THE SERVICE OF MY SATURN OUTLOOK. THANK YOU AND ENJOY YOUR DAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615895

59,478 miles · Jul 23, 2014

Air Bags

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WE WERE NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG RECALL SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THAT SPECIFIC RECALL SERVICE, HOPING THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD ADDRESS A LONG-STANDING, BUT INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG ERROR MESSAGE THAT COINCIDES WITH SOMEONE SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED THE AIR BAG RECALL WORK, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG CONTINUES TO INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAY AN ERROR MESSAGE WHEN MY WIFE OR ADULT SON SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP AND RESCHEDULED A SERVICE VISIT. WE WERE INFORMED TODAY THAT THE ERROR IS LIKELY ATTRIBUTED TO A BAD "PRESENCE SENSOR" IN THE SEAT, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR REPAIR WAS $766.00. THE VEHICLE IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITIONS WITH NO COLLISIONS, FLOODING OR RAIN INTRUSION. THERE HAS BEEN NO EVENT THAT SHOULD HAVE COMPROMISED THIS CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM. MALFUNCTIONING SENSOR = INACTIVE AIR BAG. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615820

57,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

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THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH HEAVY RAIN LEAKING THROUGH THE SUN ROOF. ACCORDING TO THE ED MORSE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE, THE SUNROOF IS PROJECTED TO PASS SOME WATER (VERY FEW) THAT WILL DRAIN THROUGH THE DRAIN TUBES LOCATED AT THE FRONT AND REAR COLUMNS (SIDES OF THE WINDSHIELD). HOWEVER, THE TUBES MAY GET CLOGGED AN THE WATER STARTS LEAKING INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH THE COLUMNS WERE AIRBAG ARE LOCATED. NEVERTHELESS, THESE TUBES ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE WATER UNTIL THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR SO THE WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE INNER FUSE BLOCK, WILL DAMP THE CARPETS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES AND MAKE MUCH MORE DAMAGE THAN YOU CAN BELIEVE. AS THE INSULATOR BETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE FLOOR IS LIKE A SPONGE, IT WILL ABSORB THE WATER AND SOAKS ALL THE CONNECTORS THAT RUN BELOW THE INSULATOR (CABLES THAT RUN FROM THE BATTERY, TO THE SEATS MOTORS AND HEATER, ETC, ETC). NOT TO MENTION THAT IT MAY DAMAGE THE AIRBAG TRIGGERS MECHANISMS LOCATED ON THE COLUMNS BESIDES THE WINDSHIELD?.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT THE INTERNET, WHY NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING YET? WHAT IF THE FRONT SIDES AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY AS EXPECTED DUE TO THIS RAIN INSIDE THE CAR????? NHTSA SHOULD SERIOUSLY INQUIRE GM FOR THAT AS IT MAY PUT MANY LIVES AT RISK. AND NOT ONLY TO SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS. THE SAME IS HAPPENING TO GMC ACADIAS AND BUICK ENCLAVES....THERE ARE MANY FORUMS WITH SUCH COMPLAIN AT THE INTERNET AND IN ONE OF THEM A REPRESENTATIVE FROM GM ASK US TO CONTACT HER BUT I SENT HER 2 E-MAILS AND SO FAR I HAVE NO ANSWER. HER E-MAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615199

57,000 miles · Jul 21, 2014

Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

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I JUST LEFT MY 2008 OUTLOOK XR AT THE DEALER. ACCORDING TO THEM THE PROBLEM ARE THE TUBES THAT DRAIN THE WATER FROM THE SUNROOF. THESE TUBES RUN INSIDE THE FRONT AND REAR COLUMNS (ON THE SIDES THE WINDSHIELD IN THE FRONT AND THE SIDE COLUMNS ON THE BACK OF THE CAR). THESE TUBES ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO DRIVE THE WATER UNTIL THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR SO THE WATER WILL LEAK INTO THE INNER FUSE BLOCK, WILL DAMP THE CARPETS ON THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES AND MAKE MUCH MORE DAMAGE THAN YOU CAN BELIEVE. AS THE INSULATOR BETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE FLOOR IS LIKE A SPONGE, IT WILL ABSORB THE WATER AND SOAKS ALL THE CONNECTORS THAT RUN BELOW THE INSULATOR (CABLES THAT RUN FROM THE BATTERY, TO THE SEATS MOTORS AND HEATER, ETC, ETC). NOT TO MENTION THAT IT MAY DAMAGE THE AIRBAG TRIGGERS MECHANISMS LOCATED ON THE COLUMNS BESIDES THE WINDSHIELD?.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT THE INTERNET, WHY NOBODY HAS DONE ANYTHING YET? WHAT IF THE FRONT SIDES AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY AS EXPECTED DUE TO THIS RAIN INSIDE THE CAR????? NHTSA SHOULD SERIOUSLY INQUIRE GM FOR THAT AS IT MAY PUT MANY LIVES AT RISK. AND NOT ONLY TO SATURN OUTLOOK OWNERS. THE SAME IS HAPPENING TO GMC ACADIAS AND BUICK ENCLAVES.... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10614986

117,800 miles · Jul 18, 2014

Air Bags

I FILED A COMPLAINT UNDER NUMBER 106110651 ON THE 15TH OF JULY, 2014. IN THIS COMPLAINT, I INADVERTENTLY SAID THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT WENT ON. WHAT I INTENDED TO SAY WAS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON. PLEASE REFER TO THE AFOREMENTIONED COMPLAINT FOR ONGOING INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR GETTING BACK TO ME IN A T…

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NHTSA ODI #10614612

117,800 miles · Jul 15, 2014

Air Bags

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I AM NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, MY SEAT BELT (DRIVER SIDE) LIGHT HAS GONE ON AND THE DIC STATES TO CHECK THE AIR BAGS. I FIND THE NHTSA HAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, YET SATURN, AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOWS NO RECALL. THE NUMBER SHOWN IS 14V118000 WHICH SHOWS THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT WISH TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, YET CAN'T AFFORD AN ESTIMATED $600 TAB TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE TO FIND AUTHORIZATION TO HAVE THIS RECALL (YET NOT SHOWN) FIXED? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610651

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.

14V118000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 17, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and seat belt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.

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> .

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