QUIKAG

Reuters / December 19, 2002

DETROIT -- U.S. auto safety regulators have intensified an investigation into 132,000 Chevrolet Corvette cars after 344 complaints that their steering wheels could lock up, including reports of 24 crashes and 10 injuries.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday General Motors has about 24,000 warranty claims for steering wheel lockup problems on Corvettes sold between model years 1997 and 2001.

NHTSA said GM had sent its dealers three bulletins about problems with Corvette steering wheels failing to unlock when the vehicle is started. But NHTSA said more than 20 owners complained their Corvettes were traveling faster than 20 mph when the steering wheel locked.

The agency said GM had found no evidence in its investigation of any problem that could cause the steering wheel to lock while the car is in motion. GM contends there is no safety defect, NHTSA said, because the number of crashes and injuries is small and there have been no severe injuries or fatalities.

NHTSA also upgraded an investigation into 324,000 GM minivans, citing 84 complaints that a seat belt buckle could fail to latch or might unlatch itself.

The probe involves belts in the rear middle seat of Pontiac Transport, Oldsmobile Silhouette and Chevrolet Venture minivans from model years 1997 and 1998.

NHTSA said the complaints, including reports of two minor injuries, allege that a plastic tip on the latch plate can interfere with the release button, pushing it down slightly. Some complaints say the tip can slide off and hit the release button.

The agency said GM had modified the tip in newer models, and had modified replacement parts to eliminate the problem. The middle rear seat is usually recommended as the safest place for children in vehicles.

NHTSA also opened another investigation into GM minivans after seven complaints to the agency that a rear suspension piece could break without warning. That investigation targets vans sold in the 1997 and 1998 model year.

Some 770,000 Ford Motor Co. Windstar minivans are also the target of an NHTSA investigation into 38 complaints their wheel lugs could fail, including three reports of crashes when wheels fell off the minivan while it was moving. That investigation covers Windstars from model years 1998 through 2000.

NHTSA is also investigating 213,000 Volkswagen Beetles after six complaints a brake light switch could fail, keeping the brake lights from coming on when the brakes are applied.

jawski

Of course its "small" with only 132,000 corvettes investigated, its all relative DUH :rolleyes:

C5aGoGo

mine was corrected last week. received notice in the mail and finally got it fixed up.

TooManyIDs

This came up on National Public Radio earlier this evening. I guess the attention level has risen.

The Example

Finally

BlackSun!

Good thing I don't own a Mini Van!!!!!! :yesnod: :lol: :yesnod:

QUIKAG

This should help our resale values too. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

blittle

I bought a 99 with 6 speed and the "recall fix" installed by GM. Not trusting this thing to work 100% of the time I am ready to install the "bypass" that takes the whole locking process out of the picture. Now I have heard or read that the CLB kit that's available from places like Corvettes of Houston won't work if your car has already been "fixed"
by GM? This is supposedly the case with the manual trans. cars. Anybody have any experience with this?? Thanks......... :confused:


[Modified by blittle, 9:32 PM 12/21/2002]