2003 Chevrolet Silverado steering problems

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE ABS, CHECK ENGINE, AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10761604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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I PURCHASED MY CHEVY SILVERADO TRUCK IN 2003 NEW OFF THE LOT AT [XXX] IN ROSEVILLE CALIFORNIA. WITHIN A COUPLE YEARS, I MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AT AN INTERSECTION AND LOST POWER. I NEARLY HIT A HOMELESS MAN WITH A SHOPPING CART, AS I CAME UP OVER A SIDEWALK. I CALLED CHEVY AND GOT TOWED BACK IN. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SOLENOID? THEY FIXED IT AND THAT WAS THAT. A YEAR LATER, I AM DRIVING DOWN A BUSY MAJOR STREET AND MAKE A LEFT TURN. AS TURNING I LOSE POWER AND MY TRUCK DIES. CARS BEHIND ME HONKING. LIGHT CHANGES TO RED AND CARS STILL BEHIND ME. NOW OTHER LIGHTS ARE GREEN. I TURN MY KEY AGAIN AND IT TURNS ON AND I GET OUT OF THE WAY. I HAVE 4 TEENAGERS IN MY TRUCK WITH ME SCREAMING. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX] AND THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING HAPPENS. THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX. COULDN'T GET IT TO DIE ON THEM. A YEAR LATER, MAKE A U TURN ON BUSY STREET. IT DIES AND LOSES POWER. I HAVE NO BRAKES AND NO STEERING. CARS HONKING. AGAIN TAKE IT TO [XXX]. NOTHING. A YEAR LATER, TAKING A CAR LOAD OF WOMEN OUT TO DINNER AND DRINKS. ALL HARD WORKING MOTHERS. I AM THE ONLY NON DRINKER. AT MIDNIGHT I AM TAKING THE WOMEN HOME. U-TURN AT INTERSECTION, AND TRUCK DIES. AGAIN. NO BRAKES OR STEERING. SCARED WOMEN. TURN IT OVER AND IT GOES. I TAKE MY TRUCK TO [XXX]. THEY HAVE JUST MOVED TO ANOTHER BUILDING DOWN THE STREET. ALL MY RECORDS OF IGNITION PROBLEMS GONE. THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHERE ANY OF THEM WENT. THEY TEST DRIVE. NOTHING. THEY HAVE YET TO FIX ANYTHING ON IT. IT HASN'T DONE IT IN OVER A YEAR. BUT NO TELLING WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN. IT JUST HAPPENS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10569184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY HARD TO TURN TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER REVISED THE STEERING BOX BECAUSE OF THE FAILURES, BUT DID NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

NHTSA complaint #10449170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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HAD FUEL IN OIL NEW INJECTORS REPLACED AND 5000 MILES LATER HAD TO REPLACE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP LEAKING ON BOTTOM. NOW TRUCK LOSE FUEL FROM FILTER AND HAS TO BE HAND PUMPED TO START TRUCK CAN SAT FOR DAYS AND BE OK OR MAY SAT FOR JUST COUPLE HOURS LOSE FUEL PRESSURE. HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE STEERING PUMP REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10249778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE DRIVING 5-10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED DURING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $350. THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS THE POWER STEERING BOX; HOWEVER, IT HAS NOT YET BEEN REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER IS WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,500. UPDATED 10/03/08 *BF THE POWER STEERING FAILED AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT TURN UNTIL VEHICLE SPEED WAS INCREASED. UPDATED 10/07/08.

NHTSA complaint #10242308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO WITH BRAKE PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE IS ON ITS SECOND SET OF ROTORS AND THIRD SET OF PADS. HE BELIEVES THAT THE 2003 AND 2004 CHEVY SILVERADO SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *KB THE ROTORS WERE RUSTING AND FALLING APART. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A CONSTANT NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #10229549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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WE HAVE A 2003 CHEVY SILVERADO WITH 58,000 MILES. THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING SHAFT. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT IT I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE GREASED BUT THE NOISE WOULD RETURN. MY SON IS AN AUTO SALESMAN AND HAS TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM OR HAVE HAD THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED. SHOULD NOT THE DEALER OR GM IN PARTICULAR BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10227202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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2003 CHEVY SILVERADO AND TAHOE WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING SHAFT. CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THEY REPLACE THE STEERING SHAFT IT ONLY LASTS A FEW THOUSAND MILES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10211706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL/COLUMN. GM FLAW IN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT, THAT SOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10207790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

THERE HASN'T BEEN AN ACCIDENT OR ANY INJURY (YET) BUT STEERING RELATED ISSUES CONCERN ME AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF LEFT TOO LONG. THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES THUMPING AND CHATTERING NOISES. THIS WILL BE THE THIRD TIME IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED, FIRST AT 35K, GM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, SECOND AT 51K, THE DEALER JUST REMOVED SOME STEERING SHAFT AND GREASED IT, NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN AT 65K. I HAVEN'T HAD IT FIXED YET, I DON'T DRIVE IT EVERYDAY, BUT I'M WILLING TO BET THE DEALER WILL WANT TO REPLACE IT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10206823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING TURNS, THERE WAS RATTLING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE DEALERSHIP GREASED THE STEERING COLUMN BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED.

NHTSA complaint #10169767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:KNUCKLE:SPINDLE:ARM

A POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING. DEALER REPLACED PART UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS INFORMED TODAY THAT IT IS BAD AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT FIX PROBLEM FROM GM AND THAT ALL THEY DO NOW IS TAKE A NEEDLE AND FILL WITH GREASE.

NHTSA complaint #10169356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

IN SEPTEMBER 2003, I PURCHASED A2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Z71. ON FEBRUARY 6, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE A "LUBE PACK" REPLACED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. EVERYTIME I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2005, I HAD TO HAVE THE "LUBE PACK" REPLACED AGAIN, FOR THE SAME REASON. I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALER AGAIN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME NOISE. HE TOLD ME, AFTER CHECKING IT, THAT IT WOULD BE BEST IF I WAITED A LITTLE LONGER, BECAUSE GM WOULD ONLY REPLACE THE "LUB PACK" ONE MORE TIME AT THEIR COST. AFTER SEARCHING FOR SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON THE WEB SITE, I SEE I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON HAVING THIS PROBLEM; MANY OTHER PURCHASERS OF GM TRUCKS ARE HAVING THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 1999. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT PART OF NHTS'S JOB WAS TO INVESTIGATE AND SEE THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN SO THAT THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS WAS INSURED. IT ALSO APPEARS THAT NO ONE, ESPECIALLY NHTS, KNOWS WHETHER THIS STEERING PROBLEM CONSTITUTES A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I REALIZE THAT A RECALL OF VEHICLES TO FIX THE PROBLEM WOULD BE MOST EXPENSIVE FOR GM, WHICH IS HAVING FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AT THIS TIME, BUT GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING NOTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM THAT COULD BE A SERIOUS ONE, EVEN IF JUST ONE LIFE IS LOST BECAUSE OF IT.

NHTSA complaint #10168178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT PITMAN

2001 SILVERADO HAD CLUNKING AT LOW SPEED TURNS. DEALER PACKED GREASE AND ORDERED NEW STEERING BOX. NEVER CAME IN. PURCHASED 2003 HD SILVERADO. AT 50,000 THE CLUNKING AT LOW SPEED TURNS IS STARTING. YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IS THERE A DEFECT IN CHEVROLET STEERING ASSEMBLIES?

NHTSA complaint #10165364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING COLUMN MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. DURING EACH VISIT, THE STEERING COLUMN HAS BEEN LUBED. THE NOISE RETURNS EVERY TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10163442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

2003 CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, EVERY YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD THIS TRUCK, I HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING GEAR BOX SHAFT SECTOR LUBED AND ONCE REPLACED. JUST HAD THIS DONE AGAIN TWO DAYS AGO. THIS IS AN IRRITATING PROBLEM SINCE WHEN IT IS GOING BAD OR NEEDS LUBED, IT HAS A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END AND DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS A SAFETY FACTOR OR NOT. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN LUCKY AND NOT HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IF IT HAPPENS OVER A YEAR AFTER LAST REPAIR, I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT DONE. I HAVE HAD OTHER CHEVY'S AND OTHER MAKES OF TRUCKS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10161360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD, POPPING NOISE WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO LUBRICATED THE STEERING COLUMN. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. ALTHOUGH THE POPPING NOISE RESUMED, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE NEW STEERING COLUMN NEEDED ADDITIONAL LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED OF THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10156375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN

CLUNKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN. (INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT SERVICE KIT).

NHTSA complaint #10156299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT KEEPS WEARING OUT EVERY 15 THOUSAND MILES AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED IT TWICE IN TWO YEARS IT IS WORN OUT AGAIN AT 45K MI. AND NEEDS REPLACED . IN MY OPINION THIS SHOULD BE A 100K MI PART AT LEAST.

NHTSA complaint #10154741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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ON 25500HD SILVERADO, STEERING HAS TO MUCH FREE PLAY AND IS SLOPPY. STEERING ALSO WANDERS. HAD ALIGNMENT DONE 3 TIME WITHIN 2 MONTH PERIOD, AND STEERING SHAFT REPLACEMENT PER BULLETIN - DID NOT CORRECT SITUATION. STILL WONDERS TO LEFT. NOT SAFE WHEN HAULING A TRAILER OR NOT. TO DATE THIS HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #10154668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE STEERING MAKES A RATTLE NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED OR RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10154011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND BELOW, THE STEERING ALLOWED TOO MUCH PLAY AND MANEUVERED LOOSELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THE RACK AND PINION HAD A SLIGHT LEAK. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPONENTS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE SUCH AS WHEEL BEARINGS, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS, CONTROL ARMS, STEERING GEAR, SHOCKS, STEERING LINKAGES, COILS SPRINGS, WHEEL HUBS STEERING COLUMN AND THE POWER STEERING GEAR. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES AND LUBRICATED THE LAST TIME. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE STEERING DESIGN WAS FLAWED, WHICH CONTAINS A LOOSENESS THAT CAN'T SEEM TO BE CORRECTED. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED AT TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THE CLUTCHES WERE BURNT AND GLAZED. THE TIRES WERE EXHIBITING PREMATURE WEAR. UPDATED 08/02/06. *JB UPDATED 04/16/08

NHTSA complaint #10153881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT

INTERMEDIATE SHAFT PROBLEM. HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 99 MODEL CHEVY/GMC TRUCKS. THE ONLY FIX THEY HAVE IS TO REMOVE THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND LUBE IT EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES. AT ONE TIME GM WAS REPLACING THE SHAFTS WITH A NEW MODEL, HOWEVER THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT KEEPS OCCURRING. NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE INJURY SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10151490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN THE OUTSIDE CONDITIONS ARE COLD THE STEERING IS STIFF. THIS OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE VALVE IN THE POWER STEERING. THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, #10013533, REGARDING THIS, BUT NO REPAIR AVAILABLE. THE WATER PUMP GASKET WAS REPLACED. THE TRANSFER CASE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/06.

NHTSA complaint #10151112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE HAD 21,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THE STEERING SHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND BROKEN. THE DEALER MADE ALL NECESSARY REPAIRS. HOWEVER, THE STEERING SHAFT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED AT 10,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE IS OCCASIONALLY DRIVEN AND ONLY ON PAVED ROADS.

NHTSA complaint #10150505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND DURING NORMAL STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT WHICH REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 03/03/06.

NHTSA complaint #10149877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE, EVERY SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES, THERE IS EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 4 TIMES, BUT THIS HAS NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 3/17/2006 -

NHTSA complaint #10149654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IT WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THEN HE PRESSED VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED. THEY FOUND THE HYDRAULIC PUMP THAT CONTROLLED THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. REPAIRS WERE MADE.

NHTSA complaint #10146511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING FAILURE . ANYTIME THE VEHICLE STOPPED THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED. THE BRAKES MUST BE RELEASED, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL WILL TURN. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FOLLOWING ;THE GEAR BOX, GEAR SHAFT, POWER STEERING PUMP AND A VALVE IN THE POWER STEERING. AFTER EACH REPAIR THE PROBLEM REMAINED, AND IT WAS MORE EVIDENT IN THE MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST STARTED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO RESPONDED BY LETTER TO THE CONTACT TELLING HIM THIS WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS VEHICLE, AND THEY WOULD DO NO FURTHER TESTING .

NHTSA complaint #10145908 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.