2018 Chevrolet Express Cutaway Van

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) after receiving one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) complaint related to four school buses built on General Motors (GM) van chassis. The VOQ alleged transmission failure resulting in a loss of all forward gear. In ODI's pre-investigative discussions with GM, ODI learned that valve body separator plates had been machined out of tolerance during production periods between October 2016 to April 2017 and February 2021 to April 2021. This out of tolerance machining may create excessive wear to the valve body check balls, possibly resulting in an inability to engage drive or reverse. The potential loss of drivability only begins when shifting from a park or neutral transmission selection and does not occur during a functional drive cycle. The average failure mileage of vehicles which experienced this condition is within warranty and related claims or complaints did not include any accidents, injuries, or fatalities. After discussions with GM, Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 23-NA-142 (NHTSA ID number 10243753) was released in September 2023. This technical service bulletin provides a procedure for technicians to replace the forward check ball and separator plate if found to be the cause of a customer's concern. During the course of the investigation, GM also released a Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) N232428780 (NHTSA ID 10253316) in February 2024, to notify school bus and ambulance fleets of the concern and to proactively mitigate the risk in these essential-operation vehicles. Recently, ODI contacted multiple school bus fleets, verifying that there have not been any stranded buses mid-route from this condition. Additionally, ODI has not received any additional VOQ complaints since the opening of this investigation. Based on the available information, including GM's TSB and CSP, this PE is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI report cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Numbers document, go to NHTSA.gov.

A safety recall has been issued for my 2019 Coachmen Leprechaun motorhome (VIN: [XXX] ) built on a GM chassis. The recalled component/system is the subject of an active manufacturer recall; the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. I have attempted multiple times to complete the recall repair through General Motors. However, there is no Chevrolet/GM dealership within approximately 2.5 hours of our location in [XXX] that has the lift capacity required to service this motorhome. GM representatives confirmed that the repair must be completed at Dick Hannah Chevrolet in Sandy, Oregon. GM offered to cover towing to the dealer but stated the “reunite” transport (return of the vehicle to the owner) would be billed to us, leaving the consumer responsible for part of the logistics required to complete the recall. Because the recall cannot be performed locally, this situation leaves us without a practical way to complete the safety repair without incurring significant cost. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealership because there is no capable service facility in our region. Any warning symptoms or failure conditions related to the recall are UNKNOWN, as we are attempting to have the recall remedy performed before a failure occurs in order to avoid potential safety risks. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11724759

Incident

Mar 16, 2026

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

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

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

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 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.