NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
113 reports30,000 miles · May 29, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
I PURCHASED A 2006 MONTE CARLO LAST YEAR WHICH HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT WHEN IT HIT 30,000 MILES THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AT IDLE. IT ONLY WORKS WHEN ACCELERATING. IN THE WINTER EVERY STOP LIGHT YOU GO TO OR ANY TIME YOU ARE COASTING THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHER GLASS WILL FOG AND FREEZE UP I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUS…
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I PURCHASED A 2006 MONTE CARLO LAST YEAR WHICH HAD 25,000 MILES ON IT RIGHT WHEN IT HIT 30,000 MILES THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AT IDLE. IT ONLY WORKS WHEN ACCELERATING. IN THE WINTER EVERY STOP LIGHT YOU GO TO OR ANY TIME YOU ARE COASTING THE WINDSHIELD AND OTHER GLASS WILL FOG AND FREEZE UP I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS INCLUDING VEERING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND I DON'T NEED THEM GETTING HURT OR WORSE BECAUSE CHEVY CANT STAND BEHIND THERE CARS. ALMOST EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO WITH THIS CAR AND ONLINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10332729
39,480 miles · Apr 5, 2010
Steering
POWER STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, ACCOMPANIED BY GRADUALLY WORSENING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, NOTED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. ADDED FLUID WHICH TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATED BOTH PROBLEMS. AFTER DRIVING CAR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES, PROBLEM RETURNED AND FLUID WAS AGAIN EMPTY. ATTEMPTED TO ADD F…
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POWER STEERING BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER, ACCOMPANIED BY GRADUALLY WORSENING NOISE. UPON INSPECTION, NOTED THAT POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. ADDED FLUID WHICH TEMPORARILY ALLEVIATED BOTH PROBLEMS. AFTER DRIVING CAR APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES, PROBLEM RETURNED AND FLUID WAS AGAIN EMPTY. ATTEMPTED TO ADD FLUID AGAIN AND NOTED THAT IT WAS LEAKING PROFUSELY, LEAVING A LARGE PUDDLE BENEATH THE VEHICLE. RESEARCHED ISSUE ON THE INTERNET TO IDENTIFY LIKELY CAUSE AND RECOMMENDED ACTION AND DISCOVERED THAT GM/CHEVROLET WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. I PARKED THE VEHICLE AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO HAVE IT SERVICED. DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OR LIKELIHOOD (BASED ON PAST HISTORY) OF A VEHICLE FIRE, THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR LOCATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10323813
26,000 miles · Mar 19, 2010
Steering
I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MONTE CARLO (V6) AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE HAS EXPLODED 3 TIMES. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HE CLAIMED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND HE GETS AT LEAST ONE MONTE CARLO PER WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOW OPEN THE CAP TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR EVERYDAY TO RELIEVE …
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I HAVE A 2006 CHEVY MONTE CARLO (V6) AND THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE HAS EXPLODED 3 TIMES. I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHANGE THE POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT HE CLAIMED IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND HE GETS AT LEAST ONE MONTE CARLO PER WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I NOW OPEN THE CAP TO THE POWER STEERING FLUID RESERVOIR EVERYDAY TO RELIEVE THE PRESSURE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR THE PRESSURE RELEASE LIKE WHEN YOU OPEN A CAN OF SODA. I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS SINCE, BIT I DON'T TAKE THE CAR ON LONG TRIPS AND IF I DO THE PRESSURE MAY INCREASE TO THE POINT WHERE THE HOSE BLOWS AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM CONSIDERING I NEARLY CRASHED TWICE BECAUSE THE HOSE BLEW IN MID TURN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10321111
26,500 miles · Mar 7, 2010
Electrical SystemTires
STARTED GETTING A "SERVICE TIRE MONITERING SYSTEM " MESSAGE WHEN CAR WAS PLACED IN DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317537
37,567 miles · Mar 2, 2010
SteeringSuspension
FAILURE OF BOTH OUTER TIE-ROD ENDS. CAUSED CAR TO HAVE LOOSE STEERING AND WANDER ABOUT ROAD. REPLACED AT COST OF $219.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315730
54,403 miles · Mar 2, 2010
Steering
COMPLETE POWER STEERING FAILURE IN A CURVED INTERSECTION. HEARD A WHINE IN MOTOR FOR ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE EVENT. WAS ABLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN AND DRIVE THE SIX BLOCKS TO HOME USING VERY HARD MANUAL STEERING. HAD TO HAVE A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP INSTALLED FOR $336.00. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315688
10,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Steering
2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LT W/ FLEXFUEL ENGINE. 1. I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. 2. A POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED/SPLIT, TOTAL FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC ASSISTED STEERING. 3. PART WAS REPLACE BY DEALER VIA WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. DEALER SAID THEY WERE AW…
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2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO LT W/ FLEXFUEL ENGINE. 1. I WAS EXITING A HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND HARD TO CONTROL. IT PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE. 2. A POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURED/SPLIT, TOTAL FAILURE OF HYDRAULIC ASSISTED STEERING. 3. PART WAS REPLACE BY DEALER VIA WARRANTY REPLACEMENT. DEALER SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF A RAISING TREND, BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10313115
40,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I NOTICED A SMELL OF MOLD FROM THE AC VENTS, I TOOK THE CAR TO CITY CHEVROLET IN CHARLOTTE, NC. THEY REPLACED THE AC CONDENSER UNIT. THIS TOOK CARE OF THE SMELL FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE SMELL HAS NOW RETURNED AND IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THE SERVICE AGENT SAID THAT GM WAS AWARE FOR THE PROBLEM BUT WAS DOING NOTHING TO CORR…
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I NOTICED A SMELL OF MOLD FROM THE AC VENTS, I TOOK THE CAR TO CITY CHEVROLET IN CHARLOTTE, NC. THEY REPLACED THE AC CONDENSER UNIT. THIS TOOK CARE OF THE SMELL FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE SMELL HAS NOW RETURNED AND IS GETTING WORSE BY THE DAY. THE SERVICE AGENT SAID THAT GM WAS AWARE FOR THE PROBLEM BUT WAS DOING NOTHING TO CORRECT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW DUE TO THE VENTS IN THE CONDENSER BEING TOO SMALL NOT ALLOWING THE BUILT UP WATER TO EVAPORATE. THIS ISSUE IS STARTING TO CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS SUCH AS BRONCHITIS AND SINUS INFECTIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10297373
40,000 miles · Dec 10, 2009
Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40000.
NHTSA ODI #10295264
63,000 miles · Oct 2, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
INTERNAL RADIATOR CRACK. THIS ALLOWED THE COOLANT AND TRANS FLUID TO COMMINGLE THUS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. IT ALSO HAD POTENTIAL TO DAMAGE MANY INTERNAL COMPONENTS. NO EXTERNAL DAMAGE THUS MUST BE MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10286059
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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