NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
316 reportsClear category filter119,000 miles · Jul 10, 2014
Power Train
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN -- WAS NOT GETTING ANY ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO. WE WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED ON. SINCE THEN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE THROUGH TODAY, JULY 10, 2014. *…
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TRANSMISSION PROBLEM: WE WERE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR AND TRANSMISSION STARTED BUCKING AND ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN -- WAS NOT GETTING ANY ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT GO. WE WAITED ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND CONTINUED ON. SINCE THEN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPETITIVE THROUGH TODAY, JULY 10, 2014. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10609568
67,800 miles · Jun 25, 2014
Electrical SystemPower Train
THE CAR WOULD HESITATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 THE CAR WOULD NOT START, JUST CRANK, EVENTUALLY IT DID START AND I TOOK IT TO LIBERTYVILLE CHEVROLET, LIBERTYVILE, ILINOIS, FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF THE GENERAL MOTORS…
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THE CAR WOULD HESITATE INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. ALSO ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 THE CAR WOULD NOT START, JUST CRANK, EVENTUALLY IT DID START AND I TOOK IT TO LIBERTYVILLE CHEVROLET, LIBERTYVILE, ILINOIS, FOR SERVICE AND THEY REPLACED THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. I BELIEVE THE SCOPE OF THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I HAVE NOTIFIED GENERAL MOTORS AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER,[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605925
145,000 miles · Jun 17, 2014
Power Train
WAS DRIVING AROUND 45 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE SLOWED TO A STOP. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING. I AM RESEARCHING HOW TO GET THE TCM TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENGINE COMPUTER. I WROTE TO GM FOR …
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WAS DRIVING AROUND 45 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE REDUCED POWER LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE SLOWED TO A STOP. I TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED BUT TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME WHERE IT HAS BEEN SITTING. I AM RESEARCHING HOW TO GET THE TCM TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE ENGINE COMPUTER. I WROTE TO GM FOR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THE LAWSUIT WITH SATURN VEHICLES AND THEY ARROGANTLY REPLIED BACK "THAT THEY ARE LONGER ADDRESSING ADDITIONAL COMMUNICATION ON THIS SUBJECT." HOW ARROGANT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598950
91,000 miles · May 20, 2014
Power Train
I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN VUE FROM AUTO DEALS LOCATED IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER THE CAR BEGIN JERKING AND PULLING. I HAD MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE ESTABLISHMENT ON MAY 7-9 WITHOUT A RETURN CALL. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN ON 5/12/2014 AND HAD THE OWNER TEST DRIVE IT. HE FELT THE JERK…
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I BOUGHT A 2003 SATURN VUE FROM AUTO DEALS LOCATED IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER THE CAR BEGIN JERKING AND PULLING. I HAD MY SIX YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE ESTABLISHMENT ON MAY 7-9 WITHOUT A RETURN CALL. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN ON 5/12/2014 AND HAD THE OWNER TEST DRIVE IT. HE FELT THE JERKING AND PULLING. I STATED I FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK MY VEHICLE AND I HAVE NOT SEEN IT SINCE 5/12/2014. I HAD TO FIND MY VEHICLE AT JERRY'S CHEVROLET WHO GAVE ME AN INVOICE FOR ALMOST $7000 FOR THE TRANSMISSION HAVING TO BE REPLACED. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A MONTH. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS. I WOULD LIKE SOME HELP! I AM OUT OF MY MONEY AND A VEHICLE. NOONE IS WILLING TO SPEAK WITH ME. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592745
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10584515
63,400 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Power Train
THE SATURN VUE HAS A LOW MILEAGE AND THE CAR HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND THIS IS VERY ALARMING, THE CAR WILL OVERHEAT AND DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE AT ALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10569021
121,221 miles · Jan 13, 2014
Power Train
LOS ANGELES CA. HEADING NORTH BOUND ON 5 FRWY DOING ABOUT SIXTY AND CAR SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, ENGINE WINDED UP IN RPMS, THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE POSITION, WITH NO ACCELERATION I COASTED TO A STOP AT BOTTOM OF NEXT EXIT. I WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A CO…
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LOS ANGELES CA. HEADING NORTH BOUND ON 5 FRWY DOING ABOUT SIXTY AND CAR SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL, ENGINE WINDED UP IN RPMS, THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE POSITION, WITH NO ACCELERATION I COASTED TO A STOP AT BOTTOM OF NEXT EXIT. I WAS TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER 5500. DOLLARS. I'M EXTREMELY UPSET AND WONDERED IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO RECIEVE ANY COMPERNSATION OR ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS REPAIRED? I LOOKED AT INTERNET AND FOUND THERE ARE MANY UNSATIFIED CUSTOMES WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10559664
105,000 miles · Dec 20, 2013
EnginePower Train
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 12/2009 AND ONE DAY IN APRIL 2010,I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT COST ME $4200 AND I EVEN WORKED FOR THE COMPANY WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHERE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT. THEN IN 11/2012, GOOD THING THE…
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I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 12/2009 AND ONE DAY IN APRIL 2010,I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT COST ME $4200 AND I EVEN WORKED FOR THE COMPANY WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR AND WHERE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT. THEN IN 11/2012, GOOD THING THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN. WELL I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AND MY CAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS IT DID THE LAST 2 TIMES. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A GARAGE AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S METAL CHIPS IN MY TRANSMISSION. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE FIRST TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 4/2013. I CONTACTED GM AND EVERYONE I COULD WITH NO HELP. I'VE READ SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT THING GOING ON WITH THEIR VUES AND HEARD THAT GM SETTLE A RECALL ON VUES TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND WHEN ARE WE GETTING REIMBURSED FOR OUR TROUBLES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10556806
115,000 miles · Nov 25, 2013
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
WAS DRIVING ONE DAY, AND I NOTICED THAT IT WAS RUNNING DIFFERENT. WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP, THEN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT RAN LIKE THAT THE FIRST DAY. THE NEXT DAY WHEN LEAVING MY HOME, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT FINALLY MOVED AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES, THEN STOPPED A…
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WAS DRIVING ONE DAY, AND I NOTICED THAT IT WAS RUNNING DIFFERENT. WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP, THEN PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT RAN LIKE THAT THE FIRST DAY. THE NEXT DAY WHEN LEAVING MY HOME, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT FINALLY MOVED AFTER TRYING A FEW TIMES, THEN STOPPED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. TURNS OUT THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10553775
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2013
Power Train
2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED AND IT COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. TEN DAYS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF POWER LIGHT, …
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2003 SATURN VUE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD DISINTEGRATED AND IT COULD NOT BE RE-BUILT. TEN DAYS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY THE LOSS OF POWER LIGHT, AT WHICH TIME THE VEHICLE DANGEROUSLY SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDAL UNIT AT THEIR EXPENSE, WHICH WAS A KNOWN SATURN FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IT WAS TOWED BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AGAIN. THE REPAIR SHOP PERFORMED AN EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTICS, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A DEFINITIVE SOURCE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN, AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO ANOTHER FACILITY. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10524417
NHTSA investigations
2PE06006 · Timing Chain Failure
Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed Jun 6, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING.ON APRIL 12, 2006, ODI RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN APPROXIMATELY 412,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES AND ION VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES. GM'S RESPONSE INCLUDED 1,020 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, INCLUDING 228 THAT ALLEGED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE.THE GM COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING OCCURRED WERE PROVIDED IN THE CATEGORY OTHER.GM STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS PROBABLY OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN IS MORE LIKELY TO BREAK DURING HIGH CHAIN LOAD SITUATIONS, SUCH AS ENGINE STARTUP.GM'S DATA SHOWED ELEVATED FAILURE RATES IN APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A FOUR MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001.OVER ONE-THIRD OF GM'S TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS (34.3%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (38.2%) INVOLVED L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH ARE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION.THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RATE IN THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS RANGE IS OVER 10 TIMES GREATER THAN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING STALL WHILE DRIVING IS SLIGHTLY UNDER ONE PERCENT.HOWEVER, IF THE INCIDENTS CODED AS OTHER ARE ADDED, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE RISES TO NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FOR THOSE VEHICLES.ODI AND GM ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS CODED BY GM AS OTHER THAT INVOLVE INCIDENTS OF STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM'S STATISTICAL MODELING OF THE FAILURE DATA INITIALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE RATES WERE DECLINING WITH AGE AND MILEAGE FOR ANY SET OF WARRANTY DATA ANALYZED (E.G., STALL WHILE DRIVING, OTHER OR COMBINED).HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE RATES ARE INCREASING. BASED ON THE HIGH COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4-MONTH PRODUCTION PERIOD FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY OF STALL INCIDENTS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN THOSE VEHICLES (EA06-009).
PE04052 · Rear Suspension Toe Control Link
Opened Jul 22, 2004 · Closed Nov 1, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
Suspension:rear
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
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