GM recall affects 277,000 models with shifter problem
Citing a defect that can cause a parked vehicle to roll away, General Motors is recalling 277,000 cars and trucks. The models involved, all built for the 2009 model year, may have a loose clip on their transmission shift cable. The failure of the clip to be locked into place may prevent the transmission from moving into Park – even if the driver moves the shift lever into the proper position. GM has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that dealers will inspect the transmission shift cable and replace broken units. Affected models include the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, Chevrolet HHR, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, Pontiac G6, Saturn Aura and Saturn Outlook. NHTSA Safety Campaign after the jump.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V073000
Summary:
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276, 729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLES SAFETY STANDARD 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT POSITION SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT", AND FMVSS 114, "THEFT PROTECTION AND ROLLAWAY PREVENTION". ON SOME OF THESE VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP MAY NOT BE FULLY ENGAGED. IF THE CLIP IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED, THE SHIFT LEVER AND THE ACTUAL POSITION OF THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT MATCH. WITH THIS CONDITION, THE DRIVE COULD MOVE THE SHIFTER TO "PARK" AND REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY, BUT THE TRANSMISSION GEAR MAY NOT BE IN "PARK".
Consequence:
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY AFTER THE DRIVER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE SHIFT CABLE ADJUSTMENT CLIP IS FULLY ENGAGED. IN THE EVENT THAT THE CLIP DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE SHIFT CABLE WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE MARCH 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Notes:
GENERAL MOTORS RECALL NO. 09041. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ronEbear 3:04PM (3/13/2009)
I bet GM is now kicking itself in the ass for refusing 2 billion dollars earlier in the week. LOL!
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Jake B 3:05PM (3/13/2009)
Maybe GM should just call them Service Bulletins. Nah, I guess we will leave the sneakiness to Toyota.
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300C 3:14PM (3/13/2009)
Best post of the day!!
It bothers me that everyone sees Toyota as the leader in quality...yet that have just as many, if not more recalled vehicles that GM does in a given year.
Terry 3:34PM (3/13/2009)
From 1990 to 2009 Toyota has had 369 recalls. Chevrolet ALONE had over 1700 in the same time period.
Nightcrawler 3:48PM (3/13/2009)
As far as quality goes, I'm not that worried about recalls whether they are from GM, Toyota, or whoever. You're not paying for it, so to me it's not a big issue. The same goes for reliability for the first 3 years (or longer) when the car is still under warranty. That' all covered. Though it would make me worry that it was going to be a troublesome car later in it's life when I'd have to pay for it.
What I'm worried about is it's reliability from the time the warranty expires intil around 150K when I'd get rid of it. That's what costs you money. That's why J.D. Power's initial quality ranking don't mean much to me. They are essentially reporting build quality, which gets fixed under warranty, not the long term life of the parts, which is more an engineering issue.
Jorge 6:48PM (3/13/2009)
I always use the parking brake, if it´s there, use it.
GM is so busted off, they are going to send bricks for putting in the wheels while parked, as this is the cheaper fix. Too bad they rejected 2 Billion that could have been used for the repairs.
Christophe 3:08PM (3/13/2009)
That is one ugly car...I have no real problem with the regular G6, but this is just terrible.
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jv2k 12:41AM (3/14/2009)
I agree, making the pontiac grill look like rabbit teeth is just dumb.
1337 12:41PM (3/15/2009)
Yeah, the G6 is so ugly that if I owned one, I'd be glad to see it roll away (and ideally off a cliff).
Farris 3:14PM (3/13/2009)
Do people not use parking brakes now? I always do, regardless of which vehicle I'm in (manual or auto).
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Nightcrawler 3:40PM (3/13/2009)
No, people with automatic transmissions do not use the parking brake now. I can't say whether they ever did, but if so, it was a long, long time ago.
Eric L. 3:50PM (3/13/2009)
Depends where you live. People who live in hilly areas always use their parking brakes, automatic or not. I moved from San Francisco (hills) to the midwest for school (no hills) and no one here uses the parking brake, which I find completely stupid since thats what the parking brake is for - parking. I'll always use my parking brake.
Franz 3:58PM (3/13/2009)
I always use my parking brake, manual or automatic, hilly or flat. I was taught to use it when I was learning to drive and it's became second nature... I didn't even know there were people in the world that didn't use theirs. LOL
KeatMP 4:10PM (3/13/2009)
I'm with Franz. I always put my parking break on before I put my car in park. It's a habit now. You always need to put it on in a stick-shift car too.
Stumpy 5:11PM (3/13/2009)
I drive a manual, so I use my parking brake. But I owned an auto a while back. If I was on a flat surface I never used it, only if I was on a hill.
Machwon 3:15PM (3/13/2009)
At least they are not trying to brush it under the rug like a certain other automaker does...
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Terry 3:23PM (3/13/2009)
277,000 models? That's GM alright.
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Frank 3:44PM (3/13/2009)
Those 277,000 represent 11 models, but only 4 platforms. A good illustration of GM's too many brans, too many models problem.
LexIS 3:32PM (3/13/2009)
uh-oh, i smell GM bashing. do correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't GM make only but lemons? well, maybe except for the cali's. hey GM, bring the wage down for all UAW/CAW or eliminate the union for good and use the extra cash to research/engineer better quality. take a look at anyone of your import competitors. i truely even think kia's quality will out perform GM.
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Pokey 11:08PM (3/13/2009)
Okay, I will correct you, because you are indeed wrong.