NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Steering complaints
135 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 27, 2009
Steering
ON MANY LATE MODEL CHEVROLET AND GM CARS, THERE IS A CLUNKING ISSUE ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS. I HAVE TAKEN MINE TO THE DEALER AND AT THAT TIME THE FIX WAS TO REPACK THE SHAFT WITH GREASE OR PUT A NEW ONE ON. THIS FI IS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. GM AND CHEVROLET ARE VERY EXPERIENCED WITH THIS ISSUE AS DOING AN INTERNET…
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ON MANY LATE MODEL CHEVROLET AND GM CARS, THERE IS A CLUNKING ISSUE ON THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFTS. I HAVE TAKEN MINE TO THE DEALER AND AT THAT TIME THE FIX WAS TO REPACK THE SHAFT WITH GREASE OR PUT A NEW ONE ON. THIS FI IS AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. GM AND CHEVROLET ARE VERY EXPERIENCED WITH THIS ISSUE AS DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH WILL BRING UP MANY ARTICLES. THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO REDESIGN OF THIS COMPONENT. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT EVEN A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ITEM. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DESIGN ITERATIONS BUT STILL NO RECALL IS LUDICROUS. IF MY OWNERS MANUAL SAID GREASE THE STEERING SHAFT EVERY 10000 MILES, I CAN UNDERSTAND NO RECALL. BUT CHEVY HAS NEVER STATED IT TO BE A MAINTENANCE ITEM AND THE FACT THERE ARE REDESIGNS SAYS THERE IS AND ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AFTER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10285438
38,000 miles · Sep 24, 2009
Steering
BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER SAID ISS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED....I WAS TOLD PER GM THIS IS NOT A RECALL PRODUCT JUST A NOISE ISSUE. I BEG TO DIFFER. THE ISS IS HINDERING THE STEERING TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. IT IS HINDERING MY BREAKING ABILITY...CAR PULLS TO SIDE. IT IS HINDERING MY ABILITY TO TAKE OFF FROM CO…
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BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER SAID ISS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED....I WAS TOLD PER GM THIS IS NOT A RECALL PRODUCT JUST A NOISE ISSUE. I BEG TO DIFFER. THE ISS IS HINDERING THE STEERING TO MY VEHICLE AS WELL AS MAKING CLUNKING NOISES. IT IS HINDERING MY BREAKING ABILITY...CAR PULLS TO SIDE. IT IS HINDERING MY ABILITY TO TAKE OFF FROM COMPLETE STOP TIRES ARE STUTTERING. DEALERSHIP SAID ISS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH CAR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10285126
41,214 miles · Jul 2, 2009
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT IS PARKING OR TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING FAILS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES, BUT THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,214.
NHTSA ODI #10275638
70,000 miles · Jun 8, 2009
Steering
WE HAVE A 2006 CHEVY IMPALA AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. IT LOCKS UP AT VARYING SPEEDS AND VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. YESTERDAY WE WERE FORCED OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE THE STEERING WOULD NOT WORK. THE MECHANICS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE ALONG SIDE US WHEN WE CROSSED THE OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273126
43,000 miles · May 3, 2009
Steering
2006 IMPALA SS POWER STEERING LEAK. DRIVING AND SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING. I HAD TO HAVE TOWED IN AND COST ME OVER $300 TO REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10267615
69,329 miles · Mar 23, 2009
Steering
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY (I-75). AS I HEADED INTO A RIGHT CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND MY STEERING WHEEL PULLED OUT OF MY HANDS, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL BACK STRAIGHT. IT BECAME VERY DIF…
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I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF MAJOR MICHIGAN HIGHWAY (I-75). AS I HEADED INTO A RIGHT CURVE ON THE HIGHWAY, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A VERY LOUD SQUEALING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND MY STEERING WHEEL PULLED OUT OF MY HANDS, AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL BACK STRAIGHT. IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER MY VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT, SO I PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY, I SHUT MY VEHICLE OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CLOSEST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE POWER STEERING LINE HAD BURST, CAUSING A RAPID LOSS OF POWER STEERING FLUID AND LACK OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THEY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE LINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $438. I RELUCTANTLY PAID FOR THE REPAIRS AFTER FINDING OUT THIS DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE "GM CERTIFIED 100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY". WHAT I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND IS WHY WOULD A PRODUCT THAT SERVES SUCH A VITAL SAFETY FEATURE IN A VEHICLE, NOT BE HELD TO HIGHER QUALITY STANDARDS AND BE COVERED FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. BASED ON THE RECENT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS REPORTED BY CONSUMERS FOR THIS SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, I FEEL THIS TYPE OF DEFECT NEEDS TO RECALLED BY GM BEFORE SERIOUS INJURIES OR LIVES ARE LOST. I DON'T THINK I HAVE BEEN MORE PANICKED BEHIND THE WHEEL THAN I WAS AT THAT TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262864
71,000 miles · Mar 23, 2009
Steering
I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WENT TO TURN ONTO MY STREET AND POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING A UTILITY POLE. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED HYDRAULIC PIPING FOR THE POWER STEERING HAD SPRUNG A LEAK. IN SEARCHING FOR A BULLETIN I DISCOVERED #060232014. NHTSA CAMPAIGN#10020769. I HAVE SET AN APPOI…
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I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND WENT TO TURN ONTO MY STREET AND POWER STEERING FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND CAME CLOSE TO HITTING A UTILITY POLE. UPON INSPECTION I NOTICED HYDRAULIC PIPING FOR THE POWER STEERING HAD SPRUNG A LEAK. IN SEARCHING FOR A BULLETIN I DISCOVERED #060232014. NHTSA CAMPAIGN#10020769. I HAVE SET AN APPOINTMENT AT A DEALERSHIP TO REPAIR. HOWEVER,THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE HAD FATAL OUTCOME. I BELIEVE THAT THIS GOES BEYOND A SERVICE BULLETIN AND SHOULD BE FURTHER INVESIGATED. LOSS OF LIFE SHOULD NOT BE THE DETERMINING FACTOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262779
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
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
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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