NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
113 reports1,000 miles · Jun 10, 2009
Power Train
I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 MONTE CARLO IN JULY 2006. SINCE NEW I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN STOPPED. ALSO, TRAVELING AT STEADY SPEEDS THE RPMS FLUXUATE. NOW WHEN YOU USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, AS THE CAR GOES DOWN A GRADE IT PULSATES AND THE RPMS FLUXUATE THEN CLEARS. GM AND DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. I'VE OWNED A LOT OF …
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I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 MONTE CARLO IN JULY 2006. SINCE NEW I'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THE CAR ACCELERATING WHEN STOPPED. ALSO, TRAVELING AT STEADY SPEEDS THE RPMS FLUXUATE. NOW WHEN YOU USE THE CRUISE CONTROL, AS THE CAR GOES DOWN A GRADE IT PULSATES AND THE RPMS FLUXUATE THEN CLEARS. GM AND DEALER SAYS IT IS NORMAL. I'VE OWNED A LOT OF GM CARS AND THIS IS NOT NORMAL. HAD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT,,RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY, POWER STEERING HOSE ALL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. HAD TO FIGHT WITH GM TO GET THE RACK REPLACED. BOLT BROKE ON THE REAR BRAKE CABLE, DEALER SAID I HIT SOMETHING BUT NOT A SCRATCH ON THE BOTTOM OF CAR AND HANGER SITS UP IN THE FRAME AREA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273488
63,400 miles · Mar 24, 2009
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $123. THE CONTA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. HE WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AND MANEUVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $123. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,400 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,502.
NHTSA ODI #10262960
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
BELOW ABOUT 15 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, THE DRIVER DOOR POWER LOCK BECOMES INOPERATIVE. ONCE WARM, THE LOCK OPERATES NORMALLY. THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK IS NOT AFFECTED BY COLD TEMPERATURE AT ALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10257669
45,000 miles · Jan 23, 2009
Steering
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES AND ONLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLAMP AT THE END OF THE POWER STEERING LINES WAS THE CAUSE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY FAILED. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES AND ONLY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLAMP AT THE END OF THE POWER STEERING LINES WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CLAMP HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST SIX TIMES BY DEALERS AND PRIVATE MECHANICS; HOWEVER, IT HAS ONLY BEEN A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE LENGTH OF THE REMEDY DEPENDS ON THE TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE. THE REPAIR CAN LAST FOR TWO DAYS OR AS LONG AS THREE WEEKS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THEY STATED THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT HAS FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS STILL NOT BEEN REPAIRED PROPERLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #10256085
Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2009
Steering
I HAVE A 2006 MONTE CARLO W/35K MILES, CLEAN TITLE. TOOK IT TO CHEVY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT IN AUGUST, 08. STEERING ISSUES APPEARED, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. CHEVY, "REPAIRED" THE ISSUE, BUT 3 DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARED WHILE PARKING TO MOVE OUT THE WAY FOR A CAR COMING AT A FAST SPEED AND ALMOST GOT HIT DUE T…
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I HAVE A 2006 MONTE CARLO W/35K MILES, CLEAN TITLE. TOOK IT TO CHEVY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING IT IN AUGUST, 08. STEERING ISSUES APPEARED, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. CHEVY, "REPAIRED" THE ISSUE, BUT 3 DAYS LATER, THE PROBLEM RE-APPEARED WHILE PARKING TO MOVE OUT THE WAY FOR A CAR COMING AT A FAST SPEED AND ALMOST GOT HIT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE STEERING. THIS SCARED MY BROTHERS 10 MONTH OLD BABY AND WE KNEW THIS HAD TO BE RESOLVED. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHAT I CAN DO AS THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE "REPAIRED" BUT IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE AND I'M SURE IF YOU RESEARCH IT, YOU WILL NOTICED IT IS ON A VAST MAJORITY OF GM VEHICLES. PLEASE ADVISE AS TO WHAT I CAN DO. I'M CURRENTLY FINANCING THE VEHICLE, AND WOULD LIKE TO PLANE AND SIMPLE CANCEL THE CONTRACT. I'M AFRAID SOMETHING WORSE DOWN THE ROAD IS POSSIBLE OF HAPPENING, AND DON'T WANT A CHILD TO BE APART OF THE SCENARIO IN THE EVENT IT IS A CRASH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255390
1,000 miles · Jan 15, 2009
Power TrainSteering
I BOUGHT MY 2006 MONTE CARLO, IT HAS LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED HARSH SHIFTING/SLIPPAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT IF IT DOESN'T SHIFT HARD FOR…
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I BOUGHT MY 2006 MONTE CARLO, IT HAS LESS THAN 23,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED CONTINUED HARSH SHIFTING/SLIPPAGE OF THE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT IF IT DOESN'T SHIFT HARD FOR THEM WHEN THEY HAVE IT. JUST YESTERDAY I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT BLEW A POWER STEERING HOSE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255140
58,500 miles · Jan 5, 2009
Steering
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT MY 2006 MONTE CARLO UNLOADED IT'S POWER STEERING FLUID ON THE PAVEMENT. THE RETURN HOSE HAD FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AS IT IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED IN 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253839
29,000 miles · Nov 21, 2008
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS FLICKERED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE NOR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS FLICKERED ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THE FAILURES WERE NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000. UPDATED 12-15-08 *BF THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/17/08. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10249509
7 miles · Oct 2, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SUPER SPORT. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2006, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO PERSIST. HE RETURNED TO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO SUPER SPORT. UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN JULY OF 2006, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS WITH FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO PERSIST. HE RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR MOUNT, TRANSMISSION, AND STEERING COLUMN TO FAIL. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT NONE OF THE OTHER COMPONENTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEIR ENGINEERS WOULD RECEIVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE DEALER IN ORDER TO FIND OUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7.
NHTSA ODI #10244252
42,000 miles · Aug 19, 2008
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MODERATE INJURES. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HE WAS INJURED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY. A POLICE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HIS VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MODERATE INJURES. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HE WAS INJURED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 42,000.
NHTSA ODI #10238935
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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