CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, 'PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS.' TO MEET THE STANDARD, THE VEHICLE MUST NOT MOVE FOR FIVE MINUTES WHEN STOPPED ON A STEEP HILL WITH THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL (N). SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAILED THIS TEST.
Safety risk
WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNINTENDED BRAKING WHEN ACCELERATING, DECELERATING, OR COASTING, AND A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PARKING BRAKE LEVER SLIPPAGE AT EACH REAR BRAKE CALIPER AND REPLACE THE CALIPER IF LEVER SLIPPAGE IS IDENTIFIED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE OUTBOARD RELEASE HANDLE ON THE IMPACT-SIDE SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEAT MAY BE ACTUATED AND THE REAR LATCHES MAY UNLATCH EARLY IN A SIDE IMPACT CRASH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN A SIDE IMPACT TEST RUN BY GM, UNDER CONDITIONS SIMILAR TO NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) SIDE IMPACT TEST.
Safety risk
IF THE REAR LATCHES OF THE SEAT RELEASE EARLY IN A SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, THE FRONT OUTBOARD LATCH MAY DISENGAGE AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SEAT LATCH RELEASE HANDLE AND INSTALL A BLACK PLASTIC CAP OVER THE EXPOSED METAL STUD TO ELIMINATE THE SIDE IMPACT SAFETY CONCERN FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
20
80,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
14
42,000 mi
Service brakes
9
82,350 mi
Exterior lighting
6
20,800 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
6
15,000 mi
Structure: body: door
6
11,584 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch
5
2,878 mi
Service brakes, electric
5
48,000 mi
Traction control system
5
90,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
4
78,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages
4
39,600 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
4
10,217 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
3
31,239 mi
Unknown or other
3
78,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition
2
91,652 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
2
100,000 mi
Interior lighting
2
2,878 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
2
12,746 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: wheel speed sensor/tone ring
2
18,000 mi
Structure
2
54,000 mi
Structure: body
2
1,578 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing
2
38,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
1
750 mi
Electrical system: horn
1
2,878 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
1
112,000 mi
Engine
1
168,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
1
12,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system
1
111,934 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner
1
2,142 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
2,427 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery
1
—
Parking brake
1
55,000 mi
Power train
1
45,000 mi
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
1
2,142 mi
Seats
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light
The 2006 model has 4 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.