IllustrationTHE FOOT OPERATED PARKING BRAKE BROKE UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I HAD ESTIMATES THAT WERE WELL OVER $300 TO FIX, AND HAVE NOT YET HAD WORK DONE. I ONLY PARK ON LEVEL ROADS AND HOPE TRANSMISSION WILL HOLD IN PARK. I FEEL THIS MUST BE A DEFECTIVE PART. *TR
2001 GMC Sonoma
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2001 GMC Sonoma do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 57.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sonoma years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
1525–50K
1550–75K
775–100K
3100–150K
2150K+
48 reports with mileage · 41 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
Power Train complaints
10 reportsMY TRUCK RADIATOR STARTED TO SMELL AS IF IT HAD A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP. THIS SHOP HAPPENS TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE GM PLANT IN DAYTON, OHIO. THE MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE TRUCK. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ALL THE RADIATORS FOR THIS TRUCK FROM THE 2001 YEARS WERE SENT TO HIM PRIOR TO INSTALLING. HE SAID THEY HAD BEEN LEF…
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MY TRUCK RADIATOR STARTED TO SMELL AS IF IT HAD A LEAK. I TOOK IT TO A RADIATOR SHOP. THIS SHOP HAPPENS TO BE VERY CLOSE TO THE GM PLANT IN DAYTON, OHIO. THE MAN TOOK ONE LOOK AT THE TRUCK. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT ALL THE RADIATORS FOR THIS TRUCK FROM THE 2001 YEARS WERE SENT TO HIM PRIOR TO INSTALLING. HE SAID THEY HAD BEEN LEFT OUTSIDE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO BE CLEANED OUT BECAUSE OF HEAVY RUST. HE STATED MINE MUST OF BEEN MISSED. THE RUST IN THE RADIATOR WAS SO THICK IT WAS LIKE MUD! HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR, HOSES AND EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR FLUID RESERVOIR BECAUSE IT LITERALLY HAD INCHES OF RUST IN IT. THIS IS SOMETHING THE COMPANY KNEW ABOUT AND I SHOULD NOT OF HAD TO REPLACE IT. THE NEXT THING TO HAPPEN IS TO THE DRIVE TRAIN. THE TRUCK IS MAKING A WHINING NOISE - SOUNDS LIKE SOME TIRES DO. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL PLACES TO REPAIR AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE SOUND. WE HAVE REPLACED SO MANY PARTS, MANY OF THEM MORE THAN ONCE IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE PUT OVER $3000 OF WORK IN THE TRUCK JUST OVER THE LAST MONTH AND AM NOT YET FINISHED. THE BRACKETS HOLDING THE REAR SUSPENSION IN PLACE ARE CRUMBLING IN MY HAND. THE MUFFLER IS LEAKING. IT IS STALLING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AND IS IDLING VERY FAST EVEN THO IT HAS HAD REGULAR TUNE UPS AND MAINTENANCE. THE TAILGATE IS BROKEN - YOU CAN JUST PULL IT OFF THE TRUCK. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE WHINING CONTINUES WHENEVER IT IS BEING DRIVEN. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO COMPANIES BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE! GOD KNOWS MOST OF US CANT BUY A NEW ONE AT $35,000+ TO. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBANDS 2001 GMC SONOMA FROM OHIO BACK TO FLORIDA WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER. THIS EVENT LED TO US HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVESHAFT, FUEL TANK, AND HE REPAIRED THE MUFFLER. WE RESEARCHED GMC DRIVESHAFT FAILURES ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE MANY…
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I WAS DRIVING MY HUSBANDS 2001 GMC SONOMA FROM OHIO BACK TO FLORIDA WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED AND PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK AND MUFFLER. THIS EVENT LED TO US HAVING TO REPLACE THE REAR DRIVESHAFT, FUEL TANK, AND HE REPAIRED THE MUFFLER. WE RESEARCHED GMC DRIVESHAFT FAILURES ON LINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE DRIVESHAFT BREAKING. *TR
THERE HAD BEEN A WHINING(LIKE THE OLD RADIAL TIRES USED TO MAKE) NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND I JUST FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRES. IT GOT LOUD ON 8/24 AND I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK, AS I GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK, IT STARTED ROLLING AND ROLLED DOWN INTO THE WOODS, WE HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT AND REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE C…
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THERE HAD BEEN A WHINING(LIKE THE OLD RADIAL TIRES USED TO MAKE) NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND I JUST FIGURED IT WAS THE TIRES. IT GOT LOUD ON 8/24 AND I STOPPED AND PUT IT IN PARK, AS I GOT OUT TO LOOK UNDER THE TRUCK, IT STARTED ROLLING AND ROLLED DOWN INTO THE WOODS, WE HAVE FILED A POLICE REPORT AND REPORTED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET THE TRUCK OUT. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LYING WHERE THE TRUCK WAS PUT IN PARK.,,ALTHOUGH THE PARK DID NOT HOLD. THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND SPLIT,,,EXPLODED BY THE LOOKS OF IT. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. *TR
PURCHASED TRUCK IN 2006. MILEAGE AT 48,000. TROUBLE STARTING, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. OIL COOLING LINES REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED, AND WHEELS ARE TURNED, TO TURN A CORNER OR TO TURN INTO/…
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PURCHASED TRUCK IN 2006. MILEAGE AT 48,000. TROUBLE STARTING, FUEL PUMP REPLACED. OIL COOLING LINES REPLACED. SUBSEQUENTLY, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS FROM 2 WD TO 4 WD FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED, AND WHEELS ARE TURNED, TO TURN A CORNER OR TO TURN INTO/OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. USUALLY THERE IS A DEPRESSION IN PATH AS WELL, I.E. CURB/DIP AT DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE, POTHOLE, ETC. ENGINE IS NOT ALWAYS COLD; SOMETIMES SHIFTS AT END OF TRIP, SOMETIMES AT BEGINNING, NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
2001 4WD 4.3 GMC SONOMA, 53K MILES, NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE, WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, LOSS OF FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT DO TO UNEXPECTED DECELERATION. I HAVE REPLACED TRANSFER CASE (WHERE IT WAS MAKING MUCH NOISE) BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. BY FAR THIS TRUCK IS NOT "PROFESSIONA…
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2001 4WD 4.3 GMC SONOMA, 53K MILES, NO KNOWN EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE, WITHOUT WARNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, LOSS OF FIRST GEAR AND REVERSE, ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT DO TO UNEXPECTED DECELERATION. I HAVE REPLACED TRANSFER CASE (WHERE IT WAS MAKING MUCH NOISE) BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. BY FAR THIS TRUCK IS NOT "PROFESSIONAL GRADE" AS THEIR ADVERTISING CLAIMS!
I HAVE A 2001 GMC SONOMA WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS 78K MILES ON IT. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN DRIVEN COLD. AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, A CODE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE TWO SHIFT SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONS. BOTH SHIFT SOLENOIDS WERE REPLA…
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I HAVE A 2001 GMC SONOMA WHICH WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS 78K MILES ON IT. AT FIRST THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STARTING. THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN DRIVEN COLD. AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, A CODE INDICATED THAT THERE WERE TWO SHIFT SOLENOID MALFUNCTIONS. BOTH SHIFT SOLENOIDS WERE REPLACED. THAT TWO DAYS AGO. TODAY THE TRUCK STARTED UP, SO THE VEHICLE WAS ASSUMED SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN A BUSY ROAD AT ABOUT 40 MPH, WITH AN 18 WHEELER TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME, WHEN THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF MALFUNCTION, SHIFTED FROM OVERDRIVE TO FIRST GEAR (IT IS AN AUTOMATIC) THUS RESULTING IN AN "ENGINE BRAKING" EFFECT WIHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO ABOUT 25 MPH. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND LUCKILY THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND HAD ENOUGH ROOM TO SLOW DOWN. THOUGH THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET KNOWN, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE ALOT "SERVICE BULLETINS" FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ITS CORPORATE COUSIN, THE CHEVY S-10. HOPEFULLY, THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED FROM THE FAILURE. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED ON WHAT PARTS WERE REPLACED/REPAIRED FROM THE DEALER.
WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN DRIVESHAFT SHOOK VIOLENTLY. *AK
NEED CLUTCH REPLACEMENT FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 34000 MILES. *JB
NARY 05/28/2003 *MR THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, AND THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS FIXED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND NONCOMFORMITY THAT LEAVES THEM AN AS WELL AS OTHER MOTORIST AT RISK OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *CB
Official recalls
100V228003 · Seat Belts
Aug 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.
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
1PE02066 · Engine Stall Due To Fuel Starvation
Opened Sep 6, 2002 · Closed Nov 3, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump; Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Additional source detail variants (4)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other:delivery:fuel Pump
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.
Fuel System, Other
ODI OPENED PE02-066 TO EVALUATE THE SCOPE AND CONSEQUENCE OF ENGINE POWER-LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION INDUCED BY IN-TANK MODULAR FUEL PUMP STRAINER RESTRICTION.THE SUBJECT PUMPS USE AN EXTERNAL ?SOCK? STRAINER TO FILTER FUEL FLOWING TO THE PUMP INLET.THIS FILTER CAN SOMETIMES BECOME CLOGGED, RESULTING IN A REDUCED FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY MODIFIED THE STRAINERS TO REDUCE THIS RESTRICTION.ANALYSIS OF THE ODI COMPLAINT DATABASE SHOWS THAT DESPITE THESE RESTRICTIONS, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES STALL AT A RATE THAT IS COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF MANY PEER VEHICLES.ADDITIONALLY, NONE OF THE RELEVANT WARRANTY REPAIR RATES EXCEED 1% AT 36 MONTHS OF EXPOSURE.ONE RELATED CRASH INVOLVES A STALLED VEHICLE THAT WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE ROADWAY, WHILE THE REMAINDER INVOLVED MINOR COLLISIONS OR SCRAPES.THE SOLE INJURY CONSISTED OF BRUISING FROM A LOW SPEED FRONTAL CRASH. GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT JUSTIFIED IN THIS MATTER.THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS THEREFORE CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.