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2006 Pontiac Grand Prix

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Grand Prix years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix are substantially higher than the model-year median of 88.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

188 reports with mileage · 51 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports21 fire reports16 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

11 reports
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100,000 miles · May 19, 2014
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE WHEELS CEASED TO MOVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SKIDDING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE WHEELS CEASED TO MOVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SKIDDING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPEED CONTROL SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 8/11/14*CN

NHTSA ODI #10592453

103,041 miles · Jan 20, 2012
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS VEHICLE HAS ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES APPROX. 500 FT. BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, AFTER SLOWING (BY COASTING) TO 15 MPH, NO STOPPING OCCURRED AND SLID THROUGH INTERSECTION OF BUSY CROSSROAD. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BROADSIDED. THE ROADS ARE GRAVEL AND HA…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL. WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES APPROX. 500 FT. BEFORE THE INTERSECTION, AFTER SLOWING (BY COASTING) TO 15 MPH, NO STOPPING OCCURRED AND SLID THROUGH INTERSECTION OF BUSY CROSSROAD. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT THE TIME OR WE WOULD HAVE BEEN BROADSIDED. THE ROADS ARE GRAVEL AND HAD A SLIGHT COVERING OF SNOW( LESS THAN 1/2"). SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME, PUMPING THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT, HOLDING BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. THIS HAS OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRYING TO STOP AT SLOW SPEEDS. ON 1/19/12 MY WIFE TRIED TO STOP AT A T- INTERSECTION AT LOW SPEED WITH NO BRAKE RESPONSE ON SLIPPERY, SNOW COVERED PAVED ROAD AND SLID THROUGH INTERSECTION INTO OPPOSITE DITCH DAMAGING THE FRONT FASCIA OF THE VEHICLE. RELIABILITY OF THE SAFETY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS IN DOUBT. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR DTC WHEN THIS OCCURS. MAY HAPPEN AT ANY TIME ON SLICK OR WET ROADS. WILL HAVE TO HAVE DEALER DIAGNOSE BUT THIS SHOULD NOT FAIL WITHOUT WARNING. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN EITHER INCIDENT BUT THIS MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW IN JULY 2006. IT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED.THERE IS NO APPARENT CAUSE OR WARNING FOR THIS FAILURE. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, AT THE FIRST STOP AFTER SPEED HAS EXCEEDED 25MPH. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10444615

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2011
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

BOUGHT A "NICE" USED PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP IN 2008 (AN 06 MODEL). THE CAR ONLY HAD AROUND 17,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST MONEY PIT EVER. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE PRIDED MYSELF IN BUYING AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES, BUT NOT ANYMORE! FIRST OF ALL, THE TIRE SIZING AND THE PRICE OF THE TIRES,RID…

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BOUGHT A "NICE" USED PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP IN 2008 (AN 06 MODEL). THE CAR ONLY HAD AROUND 17,000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST MONEY PIT EVER. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE PRIDED MYSELF IN BUYING AMERICAN MADE VEHICLES, BUT NOT ANYMORE! FIRST OF ALL, THE TIRE SIZING AND THE PRICE OF THE TIRES,RIDICULOUS! THE POWER STEERING LINE BROKE, AND OF COURSE IT WASN'T THE LINE THAT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL, THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A NOISE IN THE FRONT END, ESPECIALLY GOING AT A SLOWER SPEED AND OVER BUMPS, KIND OF POPPING, I'VE ALWAYS FELT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE FRONT END. IN OCT. 2010, THE HUBS AND BEARINGS WERE REPLACED, THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WE HAD TO PAY A DEDUCTIBLE, WHICH WAS QUITE A BIT, THEN IN JULY 2011, WITH 60,000 SOME ODD MILES ON IT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAY IT'S A SENSOR, IN THE LEFT HUB (THAT WE JUST HAD CHANGED, LESS THAN A YEAR AGO), THE WARRANT HAD RAN OUT ON IT, SO WE PAID ALMOST 500 TO REPLACE THAT, THEN SURPRISE, SURPRISE, IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON! ALSO, SOMETIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE AT SAY A STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, THERE'S SORT OF A "GRABBING" AND THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO GO, LIKE IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. THESE ARE ACTUALLY JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HAD GO WRONG,THERE'S BEEN ODDS AND ENDS THINGS THAT OF COURSE HAVE COST A FORTUNE TO FIX, EVERYTHING ON THIS CAR IS...OH, THE TIE ROD END, THAT WAS SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED...I COULD GO ON AND ON MONEY PIT. I WANT TO GET RID OF IT, BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, I'VE GOT TOO MUCH INVESTED IN IT..I'D NEVER GET OUT OF IT WHAT I NEED..NO WONDER THEY NO LONGER PRODUCE PONTIACS. FROM THE THINGS I'VE READ, IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS HAD TROUBLE OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALOT MORE RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439760

34,200 miles · Jan 29, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringTraction Control System

2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 34,200 MILES ON IT. BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT ON, ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LIGHT ON. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON, SERVICE BRAKE/ABS/TRACTION/STABILITY MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THIS HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE THIS MORNING, CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. NO WARNING! I ONLY COMMUTE 10 MILES TO WORK EACH DAY WITH THIS V…

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2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 34,200 MILES ON IT. BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT ON, ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) LIGHT ON. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON, SERVICE BRAKE/ABS/TRACTION/STABILITY MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THIS HAPPENED ALL AT ONCE THIS MORNING, CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP. NO WARNING! I ONLY COMMUTE 10 MILES TO WORK EACH DAY WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING WITH A FAIRLY NEW CAR RIGHT? TRADED MY CAMRY FOR THIS CAR. TRIED TO STAY AMERICAN!!! I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO STATE THAT I HAD TROUBLE STOPPING, WHEN TRYING TO TURN A CORNER AND APPLY BRAKE. (JUST TWO DAYS AGO) FELT LIKE A KNOCKING UNDER BRAKE PEDAL. LOOKING BACK I WONDER IF THIS COULD BE RELATED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW, FROM IN YORK, PA. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR, AND I DON'T SEE HOW THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO EVERYDAY USE. I FEEL CHEATED AND UNSAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10303198

25,000 miles · May 10, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringStructure

I AM WRITING A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY CAR. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STABILIZER PIN, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT BRAKES AND IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PARTS INSIDE OF THE CAR ARE FALLING OFF. I'VE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES DUE TO ALL THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NOT KNOW…

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I AM WRITING A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY CAR. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2006. I HAD TO REPLACE THE STABILIZER PIN, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT BRAKES AND IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE STEERING WHEEL. PARTS INSIDE OF THE CAR ARE FALLING OFF. I'VE HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES DUE TO ALL THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NOT KNOWING UNTIL IT HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM SOMEWHERE ELSE. NOW THE TIRES THAT I PURCHASED ABOUT A 1 1/2 YEAR AGO IS NOW VERY WORN FROM THESE FRONT END PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE, I HAVE BEEN ROBBED. I AM A SINGLE PARENT WORKING 2 FULL-TIME JOBS JUST TO PAY FOR A CAR THAT SEEMS TO BE BREAKING DOWN ON ME NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRY TO TAKE TOTAL CARE OF IT. PAYING A VERY COSTLY CAR NOTE, INSURANCE, AND WARRANTY. I TELL MYSELF IS THIS WHAT I AM WORKING SO HARD TO PAY FOR. THIS CAR OUT WEIGHS WHAT I PAY FOR RENT EACH MONTH. I REMEMBER A TIME THAT PONTIAC MADE GOOD CARS THAT WAS BUILT TO LAST AS LONG AS YOU TAKE CARE OF IT. NOW IT SEEMS THAT IT IS BUILT TO BREAK DOWN BEFORE YOU COULD PAY THERE VEHICLES OFF. I AM REALLY FURIOUS AND OUTRAGED WITH THIS CAR THAT I CAN'T REALLY RELY ON. *TR UPDATED 06/02/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10268324

30,000 miles · Dec 20, 2008
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

TWICE, MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP HAS WORN OUT BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE FIRST INCIDENT SOCKED ME TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $700! THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH FEWER THAN 13KMILES ON THE CAR. THIS TIME, I AM AT JUST OVER 30KMILES AND HAVE NOT YET APPROACHED MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM! NEITHER TIME WAS THERE EVER A BRAKE…

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TWICE, MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP HAS WORN OUT BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE FIRST INCIDENT SOCKED ME TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $700! THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS WITH FEWER THAN 13KMILES ON THE CAR. THIS TIME, I AM AT JUST OVER 30KMILES AND HAVE NOT YET APPROACHED MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM! NEITHER TIME WAS THERE EVER A BRAKE-WEAR SENSOR INDICATOR NOISE; BY THE TIME ANY NOISE WAS HEARD, THE ROTORS WERE DESTROYED! I HAVE READ OTHER GRAND PRIX GXP OWNERS SAYING THE EXACT, SAME THING ON MANY AUTOMOTIVE-RELATED WEBSITES/BLOGS. PONTIAC DIVISION OF GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO HELP WITH THIS UNACCEPTABLY POOR PERFORMANCE!!! I FEEL THAT THIS IS LESS OF A BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM AND MORE OF A FRONT SUSPENSION DEFECT; TAKING PARTICULAR NOTE THIS TIME, THE ONLY NOISE IS MADE WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN SLIGHTLY AND I GET THAT AWFUL, SICKENING METAL-TO-METAL GRINDING NOISE!!!!!!! *TR UPDATED 2-3-09: WEB USER COMMENTS: PLEASE NOTE THAT SINCE I FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH YOU ON THE ROTORS AND PADS ON MY GRAND PRIX GXP, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE PONTIAC DEALERSHIP WHERE I LEASED THE CAR. THIS TIME, THERE WAS BARELY ENOUGH THICKNESS LEFT ON THE ROTORS FOR THEM TO BE TURNED, BUT I HAD TO HAVE THE ROTORS AT ALL 4 CORNERS DONE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ASSOCIATED BRAKE PADS! FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR TECH NOTED ON THE RO THAT MY GXP WAS MISSING 3 HUB BOLTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION! THIS IS NOT GOOD! I COMPLAINED, ONCE AGAIN, TO THE SERVICE WRITER AND, THIS TIME, TO THE SERVICE MANAGER. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE'D CONTACT PONTIAC MOTOR DIVISION TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS DANGEROUS, REPEATING PROBLEM. ALAS, PONTIAC REFUSED! I PLAN TO CONTACT PMD MYSELF, AS I DID IN OCTOBER 2007, AND OPEN UP ANOTHER FILE ON MY CAR. IF I DON'T GET ANY HELP THIS TIME, I'LL HAVE MY ATTORNEY DRAFT A LETTER AND GO FROM THERE.

NHTSA ODI #10252354

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WET ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKE APPLIED, NO GRIP FELT WHEN BRAKING, CAR TAKING A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE TO STOP. DID NOT SLIDE, SIMPLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WITHIN NORMAL DISTANCE. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, MOST NOTABLE IN THE RAIN. DRIVER STATE HEARD A GRINDING TYPE OF SOUND ON DRIVERS SIDE…

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WET ROAD CONDITIONS, BRAKE APPLIED, NO GRIP FELT WHEN BRAKING, CAR TAKING A GREAT DEAL OF DISTANCE TO STOP. DID NOT SLIDE, SIMPLY DID NOT SLOW DOWN. NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP WITHIN NORMAL DISTANCE. HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, MOST NOTABLE IN THE RAIN. DRIVER STATE HEARD A GRINDING TYPE OF SOUND ON DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10244243

35,000 miles · Apr 28, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT IT NEEDS ITS THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. AFTER THE LAST BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT, GROOVES WERE BEING MADE ON THE FRONT ROTORS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BRAKES WERE WEARING NORMALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM KNOWS ABOU…

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I HAVE A 2006 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX GXP WITH 35,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS JUST TOLD THAT IT NEEDS ITS THIRD SET OF FRONT BRAKES AND ROTORS. AFTER THE LAST BRAKE AND ROTOR REPLACEMENT, GROOVES WERE BEING MADE ON THE FRONT ROTORS WITHIN 2 MONTHS AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BRAKES WERE WEARING NORMALLY. I UNDERSTAND THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THIS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR PROBLEM AND IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE LAST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKES FREE EVEN THOUGH NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY KNOW OF NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THESE BRAKES TO NEED REPLACING THIS OFTEN. THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE/VENTED ROTOR COMBINATION THAT IS CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225881

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MASTER CYLINDER FAILED, NEW ONE ON ORDER, COMES IN BOTH ABS AND NON ABS, CAR IN QUESTION IS WITHOUT ABS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10218233

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP NEEDS BRAKES AND ROTORS ALREADY AT 15K MILES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME OR TO ANYONE THAT I TALK TO FOR THAT MATTER. THIS CAR IS A YEAR OLD. I HAVE OWNED GM VEHICLES FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OR ROTORS, THIS SOON. THIS SEEMS TO ME AS A …

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I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2006 GRAND PRIX GXP NEEDS BRAKES AND ROTORS ALREADY AT 15K MILES. THIS DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL TO ME OR TO ANYONE THAT I TALK TO FOR THAT MATTER. THIS CAR IS A YEAR OLD. I HAVE OWNED GM VEHICLES FOR 10 YEARS AND NEVER ONCE HAD A PROBLEM WITH BRAKES OR ROTORS, THIS SOON. THIS SEEMS TO ME AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT A DRIVER INDUCED PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207416

Official recalls

1

14V400000 · Electrical System:ignition

Jul 3, 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 9, 2014. GM's number for this recall is 14350.

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

2

RQ17002 · Loss Of Headlights

Opened Apr 24, 2017 · Closed Mar 29, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights

The subject vehicles are model year (MY) 2002-2009 Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, 2004-2007 Buick Rainier, 2003-2008 Isuzu Ascender, 2005-2009 Saab 9-7X, 2002-2004 Oldsmobile Bravada, 2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR, 2005-2009 Buick Lacrosse, and 2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. This scope includes the Trailblazer/Envoy variants: 2002-2006 Envoy XL/Trailblazer EXT and 2004-2005 Envoy XUV. The original scope of this investigation was expanded to include all vehicles equipped with the subject Headlight Driver Module (HDM). The focus of the investigation was to determine whether actions performed by General Motors adequately addressed any unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles concerning the headlights and the HDM that controls them.Under normal electrical load and environmental conditions, the HDM can overheat inside the Underhood Electrical Center (UEC). This can cause the module to fail and result in a simultaneous loss of both low beam headlights and both daytime running lights (DRLs), often with no warning or prior detectability to the driver. This failure can be intermittent or permanent. No other exterior lights are affected. High beams, turn signals, brake lights, and reverse lights are still operational.General Motors addressed this issue with 2 recalls (14V755 & 15V519) and a special coverage program (N172091910). In view of the recalls and special coverage program implemented by GM and the vehicle high beams continuing to operate, ODI has tentatively concluded that the actions taken by GM mitigate any unreasonable risk to safety posed by HDM failure in the subject vehicles.Accordingly, the investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

PE09025 · 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.