NEWS:   Regulators probing gear shift trouble with GM cars

YAHOO NEWS -- November 14,  2011 – Federal safety regulators are investigating problems with the automatic shift levers on several General Motors cars because drivers may think the cars are in park when they actually are in gear.

Seven crashes have been reported because of the problem, including one in which a driver put a car in park, got out and was struck and injured when the car unexpectedly rolled backward, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday in documents posted on its website.

Another car put in park with the engine running reportedly accelerated and ran into a wall after the driver got out.

NHTSA said the protective jacket around cables connecting the floor shift lever to the transmission can deteriorate, exposing the cables to the elements. Cables can corrode and weaken, and the shift lever position can change so it doesn't match the car's gear. That means a driver could put the car in park but the transmission could be in drive or reverse. In some cases, the car may not shift at all.

The probe began with complaints about the Saturn Aura midsize car from the 2007 and 2008 model years, affecting nearly 89,000 vehicles. But the agency said it is now checking to see if the problems extend to other GM vehicles. The Chevrolet Malibu from the 2004 to 2008 model years and the Pontiac G6 from the 2005 to 2008 model years have similar shifting systems, the agency said.

NHTSA said it received three reports of crashes caused by the problem, while GM received four, including the one that injured the driver. No details were given on whether the driver was seriously hurt.

In another case, a driver put the car in park, but the transmission stayed in reverse. "When the driver exited with the engine running, the vehicle continued (accelerated) in reverse and struck a building," NHTSA said.

GM told the agency that the problem affects mainly models with four-speed transmissions, but not six-speed transmissions.

NHTSA said it has upgraded the investigation to an analysis that will check how many times the cables have failed, the consequences "and the scope of vehicles that may be affected, including the models, model years and transmission types."

An investigation doesn't necessarily mean that the vehicles will be recalled.

Company spokesman ...said GM is cooperating in the investigation. The company will make free shifter cable repairs on affected 2007 and 2008 Auras, and it will cover the repairs for 10 years or 120,000 miles from the date the original owner picked up the car. Those who already have paid for repairs should keep receipts for reimbursement, Company spokesman said.

Although the Malibu and G6 have similar shift systems, the problem happens far less frequently on those cars than it does on the Aura, Company spokesman said. The same parts maker supplied cables for all three vehicles, but the Malibu and G6 cables are not exactly like the Aura's, he said.

Anyone who has an issue with shifting should contact a GM dealer. GM got rid of the Saturn and Pontiac brands last year, and other dealers, mainly Chevrolet, became their authorized repair centers.

GM sold more than 815,000 Chevy Malibus in calendar years 2004 through 2008 and over 570,000 Pontiac G6 models from 2005 through 2008, according to Autodata Corp. and Ward's AutoInfoBank. It's unlikely that all of those cars will be covered by the investigation because they have several types of transmissions.

In March of 2009, GM recalled about 277,000 vehicles for a similar shift lever problem, although NHTSA documents say that was caused by a faulty clip used to adjust the cable.

At that time the recall involved 2009 model year versions of the Buick Enclave; Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Malibu and Traverse; GMC Acadia; Pontiac G5 and G6; and the Saturn Aura and Outlook. Only 75,000 of the vehicles had been sold, and the rest were still at dealerships.

MORE RECALL INFO: 

• Saturn Aura
• Chevrolet Malibu
• Pontiac G6

MARCH 2009 -- General Motors is recalling 276,729 MY 2009 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Malibu, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Pontiac G5, G6 and Saturn Aura and Outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicles Safety Standard 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, And Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS 114, "Theft Protection and RollawayPrevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip may not be fullyengaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear may not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear may not be in "park". The driver may not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning. Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In theevent that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before March 24, 2009.   09V-073

FEBRUARY 2009 --  GM is recalling 8,012 MY 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 vehicles. The brake lamps may not operate properly because of corrosion in a wiring connector. Corrosion in the connector could cause the brake lamps to illuminate when the brake pedal has not been depressed, or the lamps may not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed. In addition, the cruise control may not engage, and greater brake pedal force may berequired to shift the vehicle out of PARK. Brake lamps that are not operating properly may not warn a driver in a following vehicle of the braking status and could lead to a crash without prior warning. Dealers will apply a dielectric lubricant to the connector to prevent corrosion. This service will be performed for you free of charge. The recall began on February 17, 2009. Owners may contact Pontiac at 1- 800-620-7668 or owner center at www.gmownercenter.com. This recall was the subject of a Preliminary Evaluation, PE08-054, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation.   09V-036

NEWS:    GM recalling vehicles to fix shift lever problem

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors Corp. is recalling about 277,000 vehicles because of a potential defect in the shift lever that could cause a vehicle to roll away.

GM says the recall involves 2009 model year versions of the Buick Enclave; Chevrolet Cobalt, HHR, Malibu and Traverse; GMC Acadia; Pontiac G5 and G6; and the Saturn Aura and Outlook.

A GM spokeswoman says about 75,000 vehicles have been purchased. The rest are at dealerships. No crashes or injuries have been reported.

In some cases, the shift lever and the transmission gear's position may not match, meaning a driver could move the shifter to the park position but the transmission gear may not be in park.

A vehicle could roll away and crash or have problems restarting

MORE RECALL INFORMATION

• Buick Enclave
• Chevrolet Cobalt

• Chevrolet HHR

• Chevrolet Malibu

• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Acadia

• Pontiac G5

• Pontiac G6

• Saturn Aura

• Saturn Outlook