NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
41 reportsClear category filter22,807 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Air Bags
AFTER TALKING TO A SATURN CAR CARE SPECIALIST IN JANUARY 2014 BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, AND AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM INSPECTED WHICH I DID. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHE…
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AFTER TALKING TO A SATURN CAR CARE SPECIALIST IN JANUARY 2014 BECAUSE OF A LOUD NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, AND AFTER HAVING BEEN TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE PROBLEM I WAS EXPERIENCING, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP TO HAVE PROBLEM INSPECTED WHICH I DID. WHEN I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A RUBBER BAND IS BEING STRETCHED TO THE POINT OF BREAKING. THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT DEALERSHIP REPORTED ON REPAIR INVOICE: "STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG COIL MAKING A NOISE. THE NOISE IS DUE ONLY TO PLASTIC ITEMS MAKING CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER. THIS NOISE IS COMMON IN COLD WEATHER AND IS NOT AN AREA OF CONCERN AT THIS TIME". I LIVE IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE/HIGH HUMIDITY STATE AND THE PROBLEM IS CONSTANT - NOT ONLY IN WINTER. AFTER VISITING THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSPECTED, THE NOISE WAS GONE BUT THAT LASTED ONLY FOR A WEEK OR SO AND IT RETURNED AND IT STILL PERSISTS TO THIS DATE. I WAS THEN ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER TO USE A DRY SILICONE SPRAY ON THE STEERING COLUMN/AIR BAG AREA AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT. OR, I COULD HAVE THE CURRENT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG REPLACED AT MY OWN COST WHICH I OPTED NOT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AIR BAG PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. IT ORIGINALLY STARTED WHILE I WAS STILL LIVING IN ANOTHER STATE UNTIL THREE YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED TO MY CURRENT ADDRESS. MY QUESTION IS THIS: HAVE OTHER OWNERS OF VEHICLES WITH AIR BAG PROBLEMS ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS NOISE PRIOR TO THE AIR BAGS EXPLODING WITH SHARP METAL OBJECTS SERIOUSLY INJURING THEM? OR, WAS A NOISE LIKE THIS REPORTED TO FRIENDS/RELATIVES BY THOSE KILLED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS? OTHER COMMENTS BY SATURN OWNERS ON WEB SITE ALSO COULD NOT GET ANSWER FROM GM AS TO CAUSE OF THIS NOISE WHICH THEY WERE ALSO EXPERIENCING. AM I DRIVING A TIME BOMB??? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10649410
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine
MY 2003 SATURN VUE CONTINUES TO RUN WHEN THE KEY FALLS OUT OF THE IGNITION. IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH WILL AIR BAGS DEPLOY ? THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR GM PRODUCTS WITH THIS PROBLEM. HELP!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10596463
35,343 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE HORN WAS POSITIONED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHERE THE HORN WAS POSITIONED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE KEY RELEASED FROM THE IGNITION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,343. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ UPDATED 8/21/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10579184
120,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Air BagsElectrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE LOW POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL UN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE LOW POWER LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 14V047000 (AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 6/10/14*CN UPDATED 8/17/17*CN
NHTSA ODI #10579106
65,100 miles · Jun 20, 2013
Air Bags
CAR PARKED AT WORK - INFORMED HORN WAS BLOWING ON CAR. TURNED OFF ALARM - STILL BLOWING. THUMPED CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL - BLOWING STOPPED. HAPPENED ONE WEEK LATER - SAME SCENARIO. TWO DAYS LATER - BLEW HORN AT DOG WHILE DRIVING - HAD TO THUMP CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE BLOWING STOP. HAVE HAD SIX (6) MORE INCIDENTS SIN…
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CAR PARKED AT WORK - INFORMED HORN WAS BLOWING ON CAR. TURNED OFF ALARM - STILL BLOWING. THUMPED CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL - BLOWING STOPPED. HAPPENED ONE WEEK LATER - SAME SCENARIO. TWO DAYS LATER - BLEW HORN AT DOG WHILE DRIVING - HAD TO THUMP CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE BLOWING STOP. HAVE HAD SIX (6) MORE INCIDENTS SINCE APRIL '13 = SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN HEAT BUILDS UP IN CAR. THUMPING CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL STOPS BLOWING. AFRAID TO DISCONNECT HORN DUE TO SAFETY OF HAVING A HORN. HAVE READ MULTIPLE, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET - FOCUSES MAINLY ON '02 AND '03 SATURN VUE. WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL? HAVE SEEN ESTIMATES FOR REPAIR OF HORN SWITCHES AND AIRBAGS ABOVE $700.00. SEEMS TO BE CHRONIC PROBLEM - COULD LEAD TO FIRE IN AIRBAG DUE TO FAULTY SWITCH???? VERY CONCERNED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10520972
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2013
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering
I NOTICE THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON IN MY VEHICLE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AND HE TOLD ME THAT SEEMED BE BE A WIRING OR MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT SATURN DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND I NEEDED T…
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I NOTICE THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON IN MY VEHICLE. I CALLED MY MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY AND HE TOLD ME THAT SEEMED BE BE A WIRING OR MECHANICAL ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT SATURN DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND I NEEDED TO GET A HOLD OF SOMEONE IMMEDIATELY. THAT IS WHY I AM FILING HIS COMPLAINT ASKING FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE WITH THE CRITICAL ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. PLEASE IF SOMEONE CAN CONTACT IMMEDIATELY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10496249
128,000 miles · Jul 9, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SATURN VUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING A TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HER. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
NHTSA ODI #10464715
185,000 miles · Jan 30, 2012
Air BagsElectrical System
MY HORN STARTED BLOWING EARLY 1 MORNING AND I HAD TO DISCONNECT MY HORN THE SWITCH WENT OUT THE HORN SWITCH IS IN THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 SATURN VUE. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10445907
94,000 miles · Aug 16, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN 55-MPH ZONE, FORCED TO LANE CHANGE BY MERGING TRAFFIC TRAVELING FAST. HAD TO COME BACK INTO FIRST LANE AS ANOTHER CAR SPED UP IN PASSING LANE AT SAME TIME WE MOVED OVER. NOWHERE TO GO; CAR SPUN OUT, ROLLED AND HIT HILL ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FRONT AIRBAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER), AND SIDE CURTAIN AI…
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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN 55-MPH ZONE, FORCED TO LANE CHANGE BY MERGING TRAFFIC TRAVELING FAST. HAD TO COME BACK INTO FIRST LANE AS ANOTHER CAR SPED UP IN PASSING LANE AT SAME TIME WE MOVED OVER. NOWHERE TO GO; CAR SPUN OUT, ROLLED AND HIT HILL ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY. VEHICLE HAD FRONT AIRBAGS (DRIVER AND PASSENGER), AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS FOR FRONT AND REAR PASSENGERS. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY DEMOLISHED. THANK GOD, WE ARE ALIVE, BUT TOTAL DEMOLITION WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT? HOW AND WHY DID THIS MALFUNCTION? *KB
NHTSA ODI #10419738
67,600 miles · May 21, 2011
Air Bags
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON- FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH, IN TURN, KEEPS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER LOOKED AT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SAID ALL THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE FIX THE COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $500. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME WAY I …
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AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON- FOR A FEW YEARS. WHICH, IN TURN, KEEPS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. DEALER LOOKED AT IT A FEW YEARS AGO, AND SAID ALL THAT COULD BE DONE WOULD BE FIX THE COMPUTER. IT WOULD NEED A REPLACEMENT AND THAT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT WOULD COST WELL OVER $500. WONDER IF THERE IS A RECALL OR SOME WAY I WOULD NOT NEED TO PAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402271
NHTSA investigations
2PE06006 · Timing Chain Failure
Opened Jan 24, 2006 · Closed Jun 6, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ON DECEMBER 12, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A DEFECT PETITION (DP05-008) REQUESTING THE INVESTIGATION OF TIMING CHAIN FAILURES THAT COULD CAUSE STALLING IN SATURN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.2L (L61) ENGINE. ODI OPENED PE06-006 ON JANUARY 24, 2006, WITH 24 VEHICLE OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGED A BROKEN TIMING CHAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP OPERATING.ON APRIL 12, 2006, ODI RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS (GM) CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN APPROXIMATELY 412,000 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 THROUGH 2003 SATURN L-SERIES AND ION VEHICLES WITH 2.2L ENGINES. GM'S RESPONSE INCLUDED 1,020 OWNER COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS CONCERNING TIMING CHAIN FAILURE, INCLUDING 228 THAT ALLEGED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM ALSO PROVIDED WARRANTY CLAIM DATA THAT SHOWED 1,902 SUBJECT VEHICLES RECEIVING TIMING CHAIN REPAIRS, INCLUDING 261 WHICH INDICATED THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING RESULTED FROM THE FAILURE.THE GM COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS THAT DID NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE THAT A STALL WHILE DRIVING OCCURRED WERE PROVIDED IN THE CATEGORY OTHER.GM STATED THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE INCIDENTS PROBABLY OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLES WERE PARKED SINCE THE TIMING CHAIN IS MORE LIKELY TO BREAK DURING HIGH CHAIN LOAD SITUATIONS, SUCH AS ENGINE STARTUP.GM'S DATA SHOWED ELEVATED FAILURE RATES IN APPROXIMATELY 20,500 MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING A FOUR MONTH PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 2000 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2001.OVER ONE-THIRD OF GM'S TOTAL COMPLAINTS AND FIELD REPORTS (34.3%) AND WARRANTY CLAIMS (38.2%) INVOLVED L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, WHICH ARE ONLY ABOUT 5% OF SUBJECT VEHICLE PRODUCTION.THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE RATE IN THE VEHICLES BUILT DURING THIS RANGE IS OVER 10 TIMES GREATER THAN THE REMAINING SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES BUILT DURING THE 4-MONTH PERIOD, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE FOR REPAIRS INVOLVING STALL WHILE DRIVING IS SLIGHTLY UNDER ONE PERCENT.HOWEVER, IF THE INCIDENTS CODED AS OTHER ARE ADDED, THE 36-MONTH FAILURE RATE RISES TO NEARLY FIVE PERCENT FOR THOSE VEHICLES.ODI AND GM ARE CONTINUING TO ASSESS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS CODED BY GM AS OTHER THAT INVOLVE INCIDENTS OF STALL WHILE DRIVING.GM'S STATISTICAL MODELING OF THE FAILURE DATA INITIALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE FAILURE RATES WERE DECLINING WITH AGE AND MILEAGE FOR ANY SET OF WARRANTY DATA ANALYZED (E.G., STALL WHILE DRIVING, OTHER OR COMBINED).HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE FAILURE RATES ARE INCREASING. BASED ON THE HIGH COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY RATES FOR TIMING CHAIN FAILURE IN THE 4-MONTH PRODUCTION PERIOD FOR THE MY 2001 L-SERIES VEHICLES, THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY OF STALL INCIDENTS DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURES IN THOSE VEHICLES (EA06-009).
PE04052 · Rear Suspension Toe Control Link
Opened Jul 22, 2004 · Closed Nov 1, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:rear
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.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.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.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.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
Suspension:rear
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES DURING CERTAIN SEVERE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY NHTSA-CONDUCTED NCAP DYNAMIC ROLLOVER TEST INCIDENTS INVOLVING MY 2004 SATURN VUE VEHICLES AND ONE CONSUMER COMPLAINT THAT ALLEGED WHEN RECOVERING FROM A ROAD EDGE DEPARTURE, THE LEFT-REAR WHEEL OF A MY 2003 SATURN VUE ?BENT UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE,? RESULTING IN A ROLLOVER CRASH.ODI ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE DURING THE NCAP TESTS WAS THE RESULT OF WHEEL RIM-PAVEMENT CONTACT TRANSMITTING SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSIVE FORCES TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK, THUS CAUSING IT TO BUCKLE.THIS FAILURE OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED DURING A SEVERE TEST USED TO ASSESS ROLL STABILITY.THE FORCES GENERATED DURING THIS TYPE OF WHEEL-RIM PAVEMENT CONTACT ARE MORE THAN SIX TIMES THE GREATEST FORCES MEASURED DURING GM?S MOST SEVERE VEHICLE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION TESTING.ODI INSPECTION AND ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER COMPLAINT VEHICLES SHOWED THAT DAMAGE TO THE TOE CONTROL LINK APPEARED TO BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE CRASHES AND DID NOT PRECIPITATE THE CRASHES.TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF NO VEHICLE CRASHES OR ROLLOVER INCIDENTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ADDITIONALLY, THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STRENGTHEN THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.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.SEE SUMMARY REPORT ATTACHED FOR FURTHER DETAIL.
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