I HAVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE CMFTRD 97T 80,000 MILE TIRES ON MY 98 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TWO OF THEM STARTED LEAKING AIR OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE FULL OF DRYROT TYPE CRACKS. TWO TIRE STORES TOLD ME THEY LOOK LIKE DEFECTS. I TOOK THEM BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THEM AND THE DE…
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I HAVE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE CMFTRD 97T 80,000 MILE TIRES ON MY 98 PONTIAC MONTANA VAN. THEY HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES ON THEM AND TWO OF THEM STARTED LEAKING AIR OUT OF THE SIDEWALLS WHICH ARE FULL OF DRYROT TYPE CRACKS. TWO TIRE STORES TOLD ME THEY LOOK LIKE DEFECTS. I TOOK THEM BACK TO THE STORE WHERE I BOUGHT THEM AND THE DEPTH WAS GREATER THAN 3/32 OF AN INCH. I AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, BOUGHT A FREE REPLACEMENT/ROAD HAZARD CERTIFICATE THAT IS GOOD FOR ONLY THREE YEARS AND THE TIRES ARE NOW FOUR YEARS OLD. BECAUSE OF THE TIRE AGE THEY WANT TO PRORATE THESE UNSAFE TIRES AND CHARGE ME $65.00 @ FOR NEW ONES. WHY IS IT THAT THESE 80,000 MILE TIRES ARE NOT ANY GOOD AFTER 30,000 MILES AND MUST BE REPLACED. THIS VAN IS OUR SECOND CAR AND DOES NOT GET DRIVEN ENOUGH TO GET 80,000 MILES IN THE THREE YEARS THAT THE REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE IS GOOD FOR.WHEN I BOUGHT THEM I WAS TOLD THESE WERE ONE OF THE BEST AT THAT TIME AND I WAS SURE TO GET A LOT OF MILES ON THEM. I AM VERY VERY UPSET THAT THESE TIRES HAVE PROVEN TO ME THAT THEY ARE VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE SIDEWALL LEAKS CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND I AM NOT NOW DRIVING THIS VAN BECAUSE I CANNOT TRUST THESE TIRES OR THEIR SAFETY. YEARS AGO, WHILE TRAVELING 700 MILES FROM HOME I HAD A BLOWOUT WITH, A TIRE THAT WAS ONE OF THEM FIRESTONE 500 TIRES. AT 70 MPH MY WHOLE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS AND TO THIS DAY I TAKE TIRE SAFETY VERY SERIOUSLY. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION? I CANNOT JUST GO OUT AND BUY NEW TIRES BECAUSE THESE ARE JUNK. AN 80,000 MILE TIRE SHOT AT 30,000 MILES DOES NOT COMPUTE. THEY REPLACED ONE TIRE AND CHARGED ME ONLY FOR A NEW REPLACEMENT/ROAD HAZARD CERTIFICATE.THEN I TOOK ANOTHER TIRE BACK TO THEM AND THEY CHARGED ME $93.00 FOR THE TIRE. MOUNTING ,BALANCE AND REPLACE CERTIFICATE. ONE FREE ONE AND ONE FOR A FEE AND I STILL HAVE TWO MORE OF THESE BAD TIRES. I COULD PARTIALLY UNDERSTAND THE PRO RATION IF THEY WERE NOT DEFECTIVE TIRES BUT THEY ARE. WHAT NEXT? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324613
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2002
TiresCrash
SINCE 1973, I'VE DRIVEN A SERIES OF 8 CARS (ABOUT 20-24,000 MILES PER YEAR) IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND NEVER HYDROPLANED UNTIL PURCHASING TRANSSPORT IN 1998. I'VE HYDROPLANED 3 TIMES IN IT, IN SHALLOW WATER, BUT MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF CAR AND AVOID ACCIDENTS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH THE IDEA OF GIVING IT TO MY DAUGHTER…
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SINCE 1973, I'VE DRIVEN A SERIES OF 8 CARS (ABOUT 20-24,000 MILES PER YEAR) IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND NEVER HYDROPLANED UNTIL PURCHASING TRANSSPORT IN 1998. I'VE HYDROPLANED 3 TIMES IN IT, IN SHALLOW WATER, BUT MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF CAR AND AVOID ACCIDENTS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH THE IDEA OF GIVING IT TO MY DAUGHTER AS A USED CAR WHEN SHE TURNED 16 IN 2001. (WE HAD GIVEN OUR SON THE FAMILY CARAVAN WHEN WE BOUGHT THE TRANSSPORT.) BECAUSE OF THE TRANSSPORT'S TENDENCY TO HYDRPLANE, WE DID NOT FEEL IT WAS SAFE TO GIVE AN INEXPERIENCED DRIVER, SO WE BOUGHT A DIFFERENT USED CAR FOR HER INSTEAD. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE TRANSSPORT TO BEACH ON SATURDAY AND HYDROPLANED ON A 4-LANE HIGHWAY AT BOTTOM OF A HILL, SPINNING, GOING BACKWARDS ACROSS MEDIAN, AND ENDING UP IN FAR LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. MIRACULOUSLY, DESPITE LABOR DAY WEEKEND TRAFFIC, NO ONE HIT OUR CAR AS IT CROSSED 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY SISTER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY MOM'S TRANSSPORT HYDROPLANING WHEN SHE DROVE IT ON A TRIP. SHE WAS SO SCARED SHE ACTUALLY STOPPED TRAVELLING AND SPENT NIGHT IN HOTEL BEFORE REACHING HER DESTINATION. COULD THIS BE A DESIGN FLAW OR A PROBLEM WITH STEERING OR WHAT? BOTH CARS HAD GOOD TIRES (STEEL-BELTED RADIALS), NOT ONES THAT CAME ON VEHICLE, AND WE HAD JUST HAD OUR CAR INSPECTED THE WEEK BEFORE MY HUSBAND LEFT FOR THE BEACH. HAVE YOU HAD OTHER REPORTS, OR HAVE TESTS BEEN DONE RE THIS? THE OTHER MINIVAN WE HAD, THE CARAVAN, DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #766606
Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2001
Tires
HAVE HAD THREE FLATS WITH THE SAME TIRE. CONCERNED SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN FIRESTONE RECALLS. *AK (TIRESIZE: P215/70R)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R )
NHTSA ODI #738809
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Tires
WE REPLACED OUR ORIGINAL TIRES AT 37,156 MILES WITH THESE COOPER TIRES. OUR LOCAL EXPERT TIRE STORE IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THEM AND THEY ALSO DID THE MOUNTING AND BALANCE. THIS WAS DONE ON 06/22/99. ON 09/21/00, WE TOOK THE VAN BACK TO OUR DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ROTATION. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVIC…
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WE REPLACED OUR ORIGINAL TIRES AT 37,156 MILES WITH THESE COOPER TIRES. OUR LOCAL EXPERT TIRE STORE IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THEM AND THEY ALSO DID THE MOUNTING AND BALANCE. THIS WAS DONE ON 06/22/99. ON 09/21/00, WE TOOK THE VAN BACK TO OUR DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND ROTATION. UPON INSPECTION, THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR ADVISED US NOT TO DRIVE ON THESE TIRES UNTIL REPLACED, AS THERE WAS STEEL CORD SHOWING THROUGH ON 3 OF THE 4 TIRES. THE WEAR WAS ON THE INSIDE AREA OF THE TIRES, WHICH COULD NOT BE SEEN UNLESS UP ON A HOIST. WE LEFT THE VAN AND HAD THE TIRES REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE THEM SAVE THE TIRES. WE WERE UPSET THAT THESE HAD TO BE REPLACED SO SOON, AND THAT THE WEAR SEEMED TO HAPPEN SO INTENSELY, SO QUICKLY. WE HAVE THE OIL CHANGED ON A REGULAR BASIS AND ALSO THE ROTATION, ALIGNMENT, ETC. WHEN WE QUESTIONED COOPER ABOUT THE TIRES, THEIR REPONSE WAS, "IT SOUNDS MORE LIKE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE". WE THEN SAW ON THE NEWS WHERE QUESTIONS WERE BEING ASKED OF COOPER TIRES AND THE WAY THEIR TIRES ARE MANUFACTURED. WE ARE LUCKY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT, AS THESE TIRES OBVIOUSLY COULD HAVE BLOWN AT ANY TIME. WE HAVE OTHER PASSENGERS IN OUR VAN FROM TIME TO TIME, WE WERE VERY LUCKY.*AK (TIRESIZE: 2157OR15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2157OR15 )
NHTSA ODI #732776
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Tires
DEFECTIVE TIRE IS CAUSING THE TIRE TO SEPARATE FROM SIDEWALL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A TIRE TO BLOW OUT. *AK
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 VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE (1) A BROKEN SHIFT CABLE FITTING OR (2) LOOSE SHIFT LINKAGE. CONSEQUENTLY, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO A 'PARK' POSITION MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION TO 'PARK'.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE RANGE SELECTOR CABLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CAN CONTACT A BRAKE LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MODULATOR VALVE. THIS CONTACT CAN CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING IN A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE LINE CLIP TO ENSURE PROPER CLEARANCE. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE INSPECTED TO ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS CONDITION AND WILL REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
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
7
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.
EA03005 · Rear Axle Trailing Arm Failure
Opened Apr 23, 2003 · Closed Jan 12, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS 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 WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS 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 WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Suspension:rear
ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES HAS BEEN USED IN THE U-VAN FROM MY 1997 THROUGH THE PRESENT.THE GM ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS COULD CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY WERE DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS SUCH AS IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING.ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 19 INCIDENTS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THERE HAVE BEEN NO NEW REPORTS TO ODI OR GM IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS AND ONLY ONE NEW COMPLAINT IN THE LAST 21 MONTHS. DUE TO THE LOW COMPLAINT RATE AND THE ABSENCE OF A CONTINUING TREND IN REPORTED FAILURES, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS 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 WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
EA02032 · Safety Belt Assembly Failure
Opened Nov 18, 2002 · Closed Nov 21, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
ODI IDENTIFIED 59 REPORTS WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ODI WAS ABLE TO CONTACT 44 OF THE 59 CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE LATCH PROBLEMS.OF THE 44 OWNERS CONTACTED, ODI DETERMINED THAT FOUR FAILURES WERE DUE TO AN OUT-OF-TOLERANCE LATCH PLATE, AND THAT 23 FAILURES WERE DUE TO A DISPLACED BUCKLE HOUSING COVER.THE REMAINING 17 FAILURES HAD INDETERMINABLE CAUSES.OF THE 59 REPORTS, THERE WERE THREE ALLEGED MINOR INJURIES.NO LEGAL CLAIMS OR LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH REGARD TO THIS ALLEGED DEFECT.BASED ON THE LIMITED NUMBER OF REPORTS, AND A DECLINING REPORT TREND, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEARED TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS 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 WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. SEE ADDITIONAL SUMMARY REPORT.
PE02086 · Rear Axle Trailing Arm Failure
Opened Nov 18, 2002 · Closed Apr 9, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 14 INCIDENTS OF REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 THROUGH 1999 GM U-VANS, INCLUDING TWO THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES IS USED IN THE U-VANS FROM MY 1997 THROUGH 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS CAN CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS (E.G., IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING).GM IDENTIFIED A PARTS HANDLING CONCERN THAT WAS CAUSING SOME TRAILING ARMS TO BE DAMAGED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, GM IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS FROM JANUARY 1999 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1999. EIGHT (8) OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS IN MY 1997-99 U-VANS, INCLUDING THE TWO CRASHES, OCCURRED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE TREND AND SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 14 INCIDENTS OF REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 THROUGH 1999 GM U-VANS, INCLUDING TWO THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES IS USED IN THE U-VANS FROM MY 1997 THROUGH 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS CAN CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS (E.G., IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING).GM IDENTIFIED A PARTS HANDLING CONCERN THAT WAS CAUSING SOME TRAILING ARMS TO BE DAMAGED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, GM IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS FROM JANUARY 1999 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1999. EIGHT (8) OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS IN MY 1997-99 U-VANS, INCLUDING THE TWO CRASHES, OCCURRED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE TREND AND SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Suspension:rear
ANALYSIS OF ODI AND GM DATA HAS IDENTIFIED 14 INCIDENTS OF REAR TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 THROUGH 1999 GM U-VANS, INCLUDING TWO THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE TRAILING ARM DESIGN IN THESE VEHICLES IS USED IN THE U-VANS FROM MY 1997 THROUGH 2003.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT TRAILING ARMS CAN CRACK OR BUCKLE IF THEY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY, PRE-DELIVERY HANDLING, OR CERTAIN SERVICE RELATED ABUSE CONDITIONS (E.G., IMPROPER TOWING OR JACKING).GM IDENTIFIED A PARTS HANDLING CONCERN THAT WAS CAUSING SOME TRAILING ARMS TO BE DAMAGED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION.TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, GM IMPLEMENTED CHANGES TO THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS FROM JANUARY 1999 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1999. EIGHT (8) OF THE REPORTED INCIDENTS IN MY 1997-99 U-VANS, INCLUDING THE TWO CRASHES, OCCURRED IN THE LAST 2 YEARS.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE TREND AND SAFETY RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
PE02017 · Shoulder Harness Clip
Opened Feb 11, 2002 · Closed Aug 2, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
No summary supplied.
PE00045 · Air Bag Tear During Deployment
Opened Nov 3, 2000 · Closed Jan 11, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
No summary supplied.
SQ00014 · Unexpected Opening Of Sliding Door
Opened Jul 25, 2000 · Closed Oct 22, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
1998 Pontiac Trans Sport Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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