I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 CHEVY VENTURE ON 10/15/01. ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. IT CLOSED TO WITHIN AN INCH AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY BOUNCED BACK OPEN. IT MALFUNCTIONED NO MATTER WHICH METHOD I USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR (PRESSING THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE BUTTON, THE DOOR BUTTON OR TH…
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 CHEVY VENTURE ON 10/15/01. ONE WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED THE VAN THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR MALFUNCTIONED. IT CLOSED TO WITHIN AN INCH AND THEN SPONTANEOUSLY BOUNCED BACK OPEN. IT MALFUNCTIONED NO MATTER WHICH METHOD I USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR (PRESSING THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE BUTTON, THE DOOR BUTTON OR THE REMOTE BUTTON.) I HAD TO MANUALLY PUSH THE DOOR CLOSED WHEN IT OCCURRED. FOR A WHILE, I THOUGHT I WAS ACCIDENTALLY HITTING THE REMOTE BECAUSE THE MALFUNCTION DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME. RATHER, IT HAPPENS OFF AND ON, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND THEN NOT AGAIN FOR A FEW WEEKS. IT CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION SPORADICALLY AND I RETURNED TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT THE FIRST TIME ON 2/1/02. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM 9 TIMES AND STILL CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. ON ONE RECENT OCCASION MY 4-YEAR-OLD SON WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD WHEN THE DOOR MALFUNCTIONED WHILE HE WAS STANDING NEXT TO THE VAN. I NOTIFIED CHEVROLET'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THEY ADVISED ME TO BRING THE VAN IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN. I COMPLIED, BUT THE DOOR CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER FOLLOWED UP AND I TOLD THEM THAT THE DOOR STILL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD BRING IT IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN (FOR THE 10TH TIME). I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. FOR SOME UNKNOWN (TO ME) REASON, THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) STARTS TO SMELL HORRIBLY FOUL. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED ON 4 OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MOST RECENT TIME (IN AUGUST 2003), THE TECHNICIANS REMOVED ALL HOSE AND DUCT WORK AND CLEANED IT WITH BLEACH AND CLEANER. THE FOUL ODOR RETURNED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. I HIRED A CONSULTING FIRM TO PERFORM AN AIR ANALYSIS ON THE VAN AND THE LAB RESULTS INDICATED THAT 2 SPECIES OF MOLD SPORES ARE STILL PRESENT IN THE DUCT WORK. AGAIN, CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ADVISED ME TO RETURN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043869
700 miles · Apr 28, 2003
Equipment
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS SOAKED AND WET, DUE TO THE AIR CONDITIONER LEAKING. *JB
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, VARIATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR EXPOSURE TO HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES MAY LEAD TO FRACTURE OF THE FUEL TANK INLET CHECK VALVE (ICV).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FRACTURE MAY ALLOW FUEL VAPORS TO PASS THROUGH AND ALLOW DROPLETS OF FUEL TO ACCUMULATE ON THE SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON DECEMBER 4, 2007. THE SECOND PHASE WILL BE MAILED ON DECEMBER 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668. THE VEHICLE POPULATION INCLUDES BUICK RENDEZVOUS AND PONTIAC AZTEK VEHICLE BUILT IN MAY 2003; CHEVROLET VENTURE AND PONTIAC MONTANA VEHICLES BUILT FROM JUNE THROUGH AUGUST 2002; AND ALL VEHICLES REGISTERED IN NEVADA, ARIZONA, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PUERTO RICO, AND HAWAII.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE04064 · POWER-SLIDING Door
Opened Sep 17, 2004 · Closed Dec 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:door
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE WITH AN OPTIONAL POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE INTERIOR HANDLE IS ORIENTED IN THE VERTICAL POSITION IN THE DOOR PANEL AND LINES UP AT THE ELBOW LEVEL WHEN THE OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE 2ND-ROW OUTBOARD POSITION.IF THE OCCUPANT HOLDS THE INTERIOR HANDLE IN THE THUMB UP POSITION DURING POWER-ASSISTED OPENING, THE ARM/WRIST CAN BE PUSH BACK WITH FORCE AGAINST THE 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEAT OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIR SEAT BACK CREATING A RISK OF INJURY (OTHER SEATING CONFIGURATIONS HAVE AMPLE SEAT TO DOOR CLEARANCE TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT OF THE LOWER ARM).AMONG THE 103 TOTAL REPORTS, THERE WERE 102 ALLEGED INJURIES INCLUDING ARM/WRIST, THUMB AND SHOULDER INJURIES.A COUNT OF INJURIES REVEALS THAT 76 INJURIES WERE A FRACTURED OR A BROKEN ARM/WRIST REQUIRING AN IMMOBILIZING CAST FOR FOUR-TO-SIX WEEKS.ALL INJURIES INVOLVE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR.THE LEFT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR IS ON FAR FEWER VEHICLES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT PRODUCES LESS FORCE.GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED DECEMBER 21, 2004, THAT IT WILL RECALL MODEL YEAR 1997 THOUGH EARLY 2005 GM U-VAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A RIGHT SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND WITH 2ND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN CHAIRS (NHTSA RECALL #04V597).AS PART OF THE RECALL REMEDY, GM WILL REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLE WITH A FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE THAT WILL PREVENT AN OCCUPANT FROM GRASPING THE HANDLE WITH THE PALM BETWEEN THE HANDLE AND DOOR PANEL (THUMB UP ORIENTATION) AND THUS ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR ARM/WRIST ENTRAPMENT.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
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