2014 Chevrolet Caprice

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS, THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS UNLOCK AND LOCK BACK REPEATEDLY. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES SOME HESITATION AND POWER TO CAR CUTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN CAUSING IT TO JERK. MOST THE TIME THIS OCCURS WHILE DRIVING BUT ON OCCASION IT WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. IT COMPLETELY CUT OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT I WAS ABLE TO START IT AGAIN WITH NO PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11351855

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

80,000 mi

KEY GETS STUCK IGNITION REPEATEDLY. TOOK TO WILLIAMS CHEVROLET MARCH OF 2017, 25,691 MILES. REPLACED IGNITION CYLINDER. IN MARCH OF 2019 THE KEY BEGAN TO GET STUCK AGAIN, 36,579 MILES. REMOVED AND REPLACED LOCK CYLINDER 3/19/2019. WITHIN 2 DAYS THE KEY WAS STICKING AGAIN. ON 3/27/2019 IT WOULD NOT COME OUT AT ALL. BATTERY DRAINED AND CAR WOULD NOT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY! I AM DRIVING MY ELDERLY MOTHER AROUND IN THIS CAR AND DO NOT FEEL IT IS RELIABLE NOR SAFE. THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND IN PARK, GATS STUCK ON ACC.

NHTSA ID

11192229

Incident

Mar 27, 2019

WE CURRENTLY HAVE THREE 2014 CAPRICE PPV VEHICLES THAT HAVE POWER STEERING ISSUES. OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING BEFORE COMPLETELY FAILING. THREE OF THE FOUR CAPRICE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITHIN TWO WEEKS AND MILEAGE BETWEEN 47K-52K.

NHTSA ID

10810628

Incident

Dec 14, 2015

Mileage

47,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET CAPRICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT FRACTURED. THE EQUIPMENT CONSISTS OF LIGHTS, SIREN, RADIO AND MOUNTING SYSTEM WHICH WAS THE OVERALL RELAY SWITCH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OVER SIX TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 7/10/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

NHTSA ID

10701751

Incident

Mar 9, 2015

I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE ON JANUARY 20, 2015 BUT DIDN'T PICK UP FROM DEALERSHIP UNTIL FEBRUARY 3, 2015, I WAS WAITING FOR THE SEATS COVERING TO BE INSTALLED ALONG WITH THE REMOTE START I ORDERED. I NOTICE ON ABOUT FEBRUARY 10, 2015 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP CLOSER TO MY HOME THEY CHECK IT ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2014 ADVISED ME IT WAS MY REMOTE THAT HAD BEEN PROGRAM WITH THE WRONG CODES, I WOULD NEED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. I DID I CALL I WAS TOLD THAT WAS NOT TRUE BY THE PERSON IN SERVICE. I CALL THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP BACK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK, I EXPLAINED I ALSO SMELL A STRONG SMOKE ALONG WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED OUT AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW CATALYST CONVERTER WHICH IS MAJOR FOR A NEW VEHICLE WITH LOW LOW MILES. I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE REAL MILEAGE, I AM WORRY THAT I WILL HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACE LESS THEN 30DAYS OF HAVING IT. I REALLY BELIEVE I WAS PROBABLY SOLD A LEMON. I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I COULD RETURN THIS VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10684128

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

Mileage

2,747 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF A FLEET OF SEVEN VEHICLES FOR THE LA GRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF THIS FLEET (NOW 6 OF THE 7 CARS) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES DURING VEHICLE OPERATION (WHILE MOVING). THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER AND THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AT WHICH TIME A CRASH WILL OCCUR AND WILL INJURE THE OFFICER AND INNOCENT PERSONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653551

Incident

Nov 7, 2014

Mileage

10,734 mi

AS THE BARTONVILLE ILLINOIS POLICE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO THIS VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING AND BEGINNING A TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AT WHICH TIME HE STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. HE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE OFFICER THEN "DEAD-LINED" THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN TO RAY DENNISON CHEVROLET, PEKIN, ILLINOIS ON OCTOBER 8, 2014 FOR REPAIR WITHOUT INCIDENT WHERE IT HAS BEEN UP TO AND INCLUDING THIS DATE DUE "PARTS" BEING SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10653404

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

Mileage

7,723 mi

THIS VEHICLE IS ONE OF SEVEN IN A FLEET FOR THE LAGRANGE ILLINOIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLES WERE RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 28, 2014 AND WERE SHIPPED FROM AUSTRALIA. OVER THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, THE MAJORITY OF OUR FLEET (5 OF 7) HAVE ALL HAD POWER STEERING FAILURES WHILE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON AND IN MOTION. ONE OF THE VEHICLES HAS HAD TWO SUCH FAILURES. AS WE ARE A POLICE DEPARTMENT, THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN THAT THE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL WHILE WE ARE IN PURSUIT OF AN OFFENDER, CAUSING A MAJOR CRASH INVOLVING INJURIES/DEATH TO OTHERS OR OUR OFFICERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652623

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

9,687 mi

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.

New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH