NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
27 reportsClear category filter73,000 miles · Mar 6, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemPower Train
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT JUST SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THEN IT HAS BEEN DOING IT MULTIPLE TIME SINCE. IT CAN HAPPEN THREE TO FIVE TIMES PER DAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES, IT STILL SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. I JUST LISTEN TO THE FAN IF IT SHUTS OFF, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION …
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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT JUST SHUT OFF AUTOMATICALLY. THEN IT HAS BEEN DOING IT MULTIPLE TIME SINCE. IT CAN HAPPEN THREE TO FIVE TIMES PER DAY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TO REBOOT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NUMEROUS TIMES, IT STILL SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING. I JUST LISTEN TO THE FAN IF IT SHUTS OFF, I HAVE TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL, AND START THE CAR WHILE COASTING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE GM CHEVROLET RECALL. FEEL FREE TO CALL FOR A MORE IN DEPTH DESCRIPTION OF THE IGNITION PROBLEM. FOR THE AFFECTED PARTS QUESTION, IT DID NOT INCLUDE IGNITION, THEREFORE, I LISTED THE AREAS OF THE CAR AFFECTED WHEN THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF, THE STEERING, BRAKING WERE ALSO AFFECTED. THANK YOU *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567692
130,770 miles · Aug 30, 2013
Power TrainInjury
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID ANOTHER DRIVER, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. INSTEAD OF THE CAR ACCELERATING, DRIVER WAS FORCED TO SWERVE AND HARD BRAKE FORCING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD JUST BARELY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING MINOR BRUISING ON THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. I MORE OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE A…
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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID ANOTHER DRIVER, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. INSTEAD OF THE CAR ACCELERATING, DRIVER WAS FORCED TO SWERVE AND HARD BRAKE FORCING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD JUST BARELY AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING MINOR BRUISING ON THE CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. I MORE OF THESE SAME COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEBSITE AND AM TOLD THAT CHEVROLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO FIX IT. THE MECHANIC I TALKED TO SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN 3 OF THESE HIMSELF AND ITS USUALLY THE TORQUE CONVERTER, AND CAN'T GET AN AFTERMARKET ONE YET AND PEOPLE ARE REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA ODI #10538159
77,000 miles · Jun 10, 2013
Power Train
2006 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS, STARTED TO NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT ABOUT 77,000 MILES, WHEN STOPPED AND BEGINNING ACCELERATION IT HESITATES THAN LUNGES INTO GEAR WHILE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AT THE SAME TIME..CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY BURNT FLUID OR PARTICLES IN IT....THIS INCIDENT REPEATED IT…
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2006 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS, STARTED TO NOTICE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AT ABOUT 77,000 MILES, WHEN STOPPED AND BEGINNING ACCELERATION IT HESITATES THAN LUNGES INTO GEAR WHILE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AT THE SAME TIME..CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND DIDN'T NOTICE ANY BURNT FLUID OR PARTICLES IN IT....THIS INCIDENT REPEATED ITSELF FOR 7 MONTHS AND TODAY IT WOULDN'T GO INTO DRIVE OR ANY OF THE LOW GEARS...ITS PRETTY OBVIOUS BY ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURES FLAW! DISAPPOINTED!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10516158
104,617 miles · Apr 13, 2013
Power Train
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION (IN DRIVE) IMMEDIATELY SHIFTS HARD INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SLIPS A LITTLE BEFORE ENGAGING. IF I SHIFT THE GEARS MANUALLY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS NORMAL. IT DOES THIS ONLY IN DRIVE AND SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE FLUID IS CLEAR, FULL AND NOT BURNT. THE TRANS FLUID…
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WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE TRANSMISSION (IN DRIVE) IMMEDIATELY SHIFTS HARD INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SLIPS A LITTLE BEFORE ENGAGING. IF I SHIFT THE GEARS MANUALLY, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS NORMAL. IT DOES THIS ONLY IN DRIVE AND SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. THE FLUID IS CLEAR, FULL AND NOT BURNT. THE TRANS FLUID WAS FLUSHED ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO WITH NO PROBLEMS BEFORE NOW. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN HARD AND HAS AVERAGE AMOUNT OF MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508103
90,000 miles · Nov 21, 2012
EnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A SHUTTERING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 12/03…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED A SHUTTERING NOISE WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 12/03/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD LOW OIL, BEFORE AN OIL CHANGE WAS DUE. THE VEHICLE WAS LOW 1-1.5 QUARTS EVERY ONE THOUSANDS MILES. AT 40,000 AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS PERFORMED. A YEAR BEFORE, THE RINGS AND PISTONS WERE REPLACED AT 92,000. AFTER THE PISTONS AND RINGS WERE REPLACED, THE CONSUMER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERING. A COMPUTER FLASH WAS DONE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. UPDATED 12/05/12
NHTSA ODI #10485392
93,331 miles · Oct 18, 2012
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT PROPERLY RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DID NOT PROPERLY RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT A REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 93,331.
NHTSA ODI #10481039
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 2012
Power Train
2006 MONTE CARLO SS WITH FAILING TRANSMISSION AT 85,000 MILES...DEALER WANTS $2900 - $5100 TO FIX REPAIR, AND OFFERED TO COVER ANY EXPENSES OVER $2000. THEY AGREED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $500 SO MY TOTAL OUT OF POCKET WOULD ONLY BE $1500. THEY DENIED. I AM LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS RES…
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2006 MONTE CARLO SS WITH FAILING TRANSMISSION AT 85,000 MILES...DEALER WANTS $2900 - $5100 TO FIX REPAIR, AND OFFERED TO COVER ANY EXPENSES OVER $2000. THEY AGREED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE. I ASKED FOR AN ADDITIONAL $500 SO MY TOTAL OUT OF POCKET WOULD ONLY BE $1500. THEY DENIED. I AM LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE TO GET THIS RESOLVED AS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE.... CAN YOU OFFER SOME GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON WHAT I CAN DO? DEALER IS LAWRENCE CHEVROLET AND THE GOODWILL CLAIM GUY IS NAMED [XXX]. [XXX] IS THE SERVICE GUY I SPOKE WITH..AT [XXX] THE GM CUSTOMER LIAISON I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IS [XXX] AT 866.790.5600, EXT. [XXX]. THERE ARE LOTS OF MONTE CARLO'S FAILING AND I GOT THIS INFORMATION I RECEIVED AT: HTTP://WWW.GMLS4.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=27.0. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479371
60,000 miles · Apr 15, 2012
Power Train
THE ENGINE SLIPS AND THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR ON SOFT SHIFTS BETWEEN 0 AND 20 MILES PER HOUR. NOT ON EVERY SOT SHIFT BUT IT HAPPENS OFTEN ENOUGH AS TO WHERE I FELT THE PROBLEM NEEDED TO BE HEARD AND HOPEFULLY ADDRESSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10455271
38,100 miles · May 6, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND GRINDS AT RANDOM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10399339
45,000 miles · Jan 14, 2011
Power Train
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MONTE CARLO SS WITH THE LS4 V8 ENGINE COUPLED TO THE 4T65HD TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION AI STARTING TO ACT UP, MISSING SHIFTS AND SLIPPING EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. MY CAR ONLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10376741
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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