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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE08062

Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
2
2 models
Opened
Oct 21, 2008
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Mar 20, 2009
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

TURN SIGNAL LAMPS

THE SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE LOSS OF FUNCTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE PARK, TURN, STOP OR DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL).FAILURE OF THE BULB MAY ALSO INCLUDE DISCOLORATION (HEAT DAMAGE) TO THE BULB SOCKET.GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NUMBER 06-08-42-004C INSTRUCTS TECHNICIANS TO EXAMINE THE LAMP HOUSING FOR SIGNS OF DISCOLORATION AND TO REPLACE THE BULBS AND OR SOCKETS DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THE DISCOLORATION AND THE CONDITION OF THE BULBS AND SOCKETS.THE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION IN THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE08-062) WAS THE 2004 MALIBU/MAXX.HOWEVER, THE AGENCY EVALUATED GM'S WARRANTY DATA WHICH INDICATES THAT THE 2005 MODEL YEAR (MY) MALIBU AND MALIBU MAXX VEHICLES ARE ALSO AFFECTED BY THIS CONDITION.THIS INVESTIGATION IS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-004).

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
PE08062
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
Opened
Oct 21, 2008
Closed
Mar 20, 2009
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

2 model years across 2 models

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.