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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE11014

Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

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.
16
6 models
Opened
Apr 25, 2011
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Sep 23, 2011
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

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

Fuel level gauge system failure

The office of defects investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by General Motors (GM) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 5,089 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving.General Motors stated that this condition occurs when the contacts of the fuel sensor wear prematurely.Most of the complaints indicated an empty fuel gauge reading after filling the tank.Less than 10 percent of theODI complaints involved an engine stall incident.During this investigation, GM developed a remedy procedure and issued special coverage bulletin instructing dealers to install a new design fuel level sensor.The bulletin was sent to dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.This preliminary evaluation is closed.

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
PE11014
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Component
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
Opened
Apr 25, 2011
Closed
Sep 23, 2011
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

16 model years across 6 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.