Electric Power Steering Failure

Steering:Electric Power Assist System

Summary

In a March 1, 2010 letter, General Motors Corporation (GM) provided a defect information report to NHTSA regarding a problem that could result in sudden loss of power steering assist in certain model year (MY) 2005 through 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt and MY 2007 through 2010 Pontiac G5 vehicles equipped with electric power steering (EPS).The letter indicates that the loss of steering assist could occur at any time while driving and that, once assist is lost, a message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC) and a chime sounds to inform the driver.The letter further states that steering control is maintained in manual mode, but would require greater driver effort at low vehicle speeds.In the next ignition cycle, power assist is typically regained and the DIC message is no longer displayed.GM's letter identifies the root cause of the EPS failure as the EPS motor and indicates that production of a new motor started in December 2009.GM's recall repair procedure instructs dealers to replace the EPS motor in all recalled vehicles. ODI's analysis of all information available related to sudden loss of EPS assist while driving in the MY 2005 through 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt vehicles shows current complaint and warranty rates of 323/100,000 vehicles and 0.4% respectively.In response to ODI's request for information, GM identified 81 complaints where a crash was claimed that may be related to loss of EPS assist.ODI's analysis of all crash claims was based on verifiable factors such as; whether a loss of EPS was indicated at the time of the crash by a chime or malfunction indicator lamp or if a EPS related component malfunction was identified after the crash occurred.With this method ODI identified 36 possible crashes related to EPS failure.GM assessed crash claims based on the available facts and excluded crash claims that indicated that the vehicle was travelling at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater.GM said that it believes if power assist is lost while a vehicle is moving at speeds in the range of 30 mph or greater there is a small difference in steering efforts perceived in subjective evaluations at those speeds and it is unlikely to lead to loss of vehicle control. Based on GM's safety recall, this investigation is closed.

Documents (110)

• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 71-5...
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-38365611, PART B
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010,1-17...
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_3_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATTACHMENT PART B COMBINDED
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-58...
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-407760605 WORD DOUMENTS
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-407760605
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 1-43315543,1-423974806,1-424497551,1-42539992 Q_03 PEER_OWNER_REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-53...
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-458984691,71-464124867,71-464511992,71-465280848,71-465393895 Q3_PEER_OWNERS_REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-468965455,71-470137141,71-471287745,71-472504155,71-474864281,71-479004728,71-482643696,71-483600316,71-484232448 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTSDATA
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-417485424,1-417630913,1418513006,1418795939,1420889107,1421475905
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 14223689315
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT,1423974806,1424497551,1425399921
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1425871663,1426109155,1426744286,1427605634
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS 1-430926822,1-431079058,1423417189
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS 1-43716084,1-433155432,1-433661421
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 5 OF 6
• 43080 - GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1-384463394,1-384914058,1-388438220,1-398541913,1-399819326
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1-401424761,1-404322504,405509837
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1-408341203,1-409788938,141197711,1-413203303,1-414065427,1-415864844,1-41595047,1415980440
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1416767132
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q3_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS ATTACHMENTS COMBINED
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q3_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS ATTACHMENTS COMBINED
• GM REPSONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL ATTACHMENTS. 631377,632174,632500,63722
• GM REPSONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL ATTACHMENTS. 505399,510732,510850,513284,515093,515900,625493,627230,628995,629146.
• GM REPSONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL ATTACHMENTS. 643415,643889,645213,654184,654468,656412,657218,657526,657851
• GM REPSONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL ATTACHMENTS. 659182,660121,660266,660396,661005,662128,667537,671248,676581,677398,677768,678376,678972
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 1-84041144.01 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL_ATTACHMENT
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_15_C
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 2 OF 6
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT,1-16859298, ...
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT,1-350395607,1-353126829,1-354594115,1-356011850,1-356916698,1-357469644,1-357891506,1-360849414,1-366510019,1-369432134,1-370806707,1-373114308,1-375040718,1-376927307. EXCEL WILL BE ATTACH SEPARATE.
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-38365611, PART A
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-38365611
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-484137120, 71-490797160,71-495489923,71-497561796,71-498134801,71-498176450 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 REQUEST 1-417485424, 1-417630913,1-418795939,1-420889107,1-421475905,1-42148305
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 3 OF 6
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 1-421492953,1-422665465,71-508245941,71-515920891,71-525369209,71-526605454,71-528470370,71-558746369,71-558914897
• CLOSING RESUME APPROVED
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 1-423689315
• 71-498987165,71-50215790,71-503396590,71-507330348,71-511174612,71,515828438,71,517881893,71,518576135,71,531319625,71,532698267,71,5336992185
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-1-38545947
• ODI MEMO 3/8/2010 TO GM
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_07
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-1-390569716
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-1-39144145
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-392381606
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-396024929
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-406893439
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-407258903
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS, COMBINED.
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 ST DOCUMENTS COMBINED
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q3_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS ATTACHMENTS COMBINED
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, PART 1 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, PART 2 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, PART 3 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_Subject_Owner-Reports_ATT
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_Owner-Reports_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 1 OF 2
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 2 OF 2
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATTACHMENT PART 1 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATTACHMENT PART 2 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 1 OF 4
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 2 OF 4
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 4 OF 4
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS PART 2 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS, COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 2 OF 2
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS, COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 1 OF 2
• MEMO 3/15/2010 TO THE FILE
• IR TO MFR - TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) SYSTEM FAILURE. (2005 – 2009 CHEVROLET COBALT). * 02/16/2010 * p
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 LETTER TO ODI
• OPENING RESUME APPROVED * 01/27/2010 * p
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 ST-24146501
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 COMBINED DOCUMENTS PART 3 OF 4
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, COMBINED DOCUMENTS
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-1-384350305
• GM 4/14/2010 LETTER TO ODI
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT, 1-407258903
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 Q_03 PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT 1-427881225,1428592121,1428777145,1430820407
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 4 OF 6
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATTACHMENTS COMBINED
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 1 OF 6
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q3_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS ATTACHMENTS COMBINED
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 1-433888199,1-434890609,1-436928539,1439657377,1-439873718,1-441288852, 71-429422572,71-429745491 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-431989078,71-445187432,71-445989513,71-446683006,71-457535835 Q_03_PEER-REPORTS
• GM 4/14/2010 ATTACHMENT Q_03_SUBJECT_LEGAL_ATT PART 6 OF 6
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS_ATTACHMENT PART 3 OF 3
• GM RESPONSE 4/14/2010 71-446683006,71-457535835,71-458984691,71-46412867,71-464511992,71-465280848,71-465393895,71-466759434,71-467308781 Q_03_PEER OWNER-REPORTS
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_OWNER-REPORTS, COMBINED
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 3 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 4 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 5 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 6 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 7 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 8 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 10 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 11 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 12 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 15 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 16 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 14 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 1 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 2 OF 16
• GM RESPONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_SUBJECT_OWNER-REPORTS_ATT PART 9 OF 16
• GM REPSONSE 04/14/2010 Q_03_PEER_LEGAL ATTACHMENTS. 638703,639678,641612,641725,642019,642575,642804,642934,643154

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