Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | |||||
| SB-10054 | 08/01/2011 | 10041526 | Buick/chevrolet/gmc: see document search button for owner letter. fuel level sensor contact wear may be premature. *pe | 10/04/2011 | |
| SB-10054 | 08/01/2011 | SB-10054A | 10041526 | Buick/chevrolet/gmc: see document search button for owner letter. fuel level sensor contact wear may be premature. *pe updated 10/5/11. *pe | 10/04/2011 |
| PIT-3046E | 08/01/2008 | 10026704 | Gmc: fuel gauge fluctuation in park or neutral, causing the low fuel light to illuminate. *pe | 12/04/2008 | |
| 3208 | 10/13/2006 | 3208C | 10010607 | 4wd inoperative and or erratic fuel gauge and or diagnostic trouble code's. *eh | 12/02/2004 |
| 3046A | 3046B | 10009382 | Fuel gauge fluctuation in park or neutral. *tt | 09/27/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 04/25/2011 | 09/23/2011 | 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. | ||||||
| DP10001 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 01/07/2010 | 05/23/2011 | Fuel Level Gauge System Failure | ||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 04/25/2011 | Fuel level gauge system failure | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/25/2011 | Fuel level gauge system failure | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 04/25/2011 | 09/23/2011 | 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. | ||||||
| DP10001 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 01/07/2010 | 05/23/2011 | Fuel Level Gauge System Failure | ||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC | 04/25/2011 | Fuel level gauge system failure | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
| PE11014 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/25/2011 | Fuel level gauge system failure | |||
| The office of defects investigation has received 668 complaints alleging inaccurate fuel gauge reading while driving in model year 2005-07 chevrolet trailblazer, gmc envoy, buick rainier, and saab 9-7x vehicles.of the 668 complaints, 58 incidents were alleged to result in a vehicle stall.of the 58 stalling incidents, 43 complaints reported stalling because the fuel level reading indicated more fuel availability than what is actually in the fuel tank. one complaint alleged a vehicle crash after the vehicle stalled while exiting the interstate, became disabled, and was struck from behind.summarily, the complaints show an apparent increasing trend, with most complaints received within the past year.a preliminary evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency and potential safety consequences associated with the alleged defect. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 12/07/2011 | 74000 | ||
| Fuel gauge acts erratic. shows 3/4 full, then slowly drops to empty with low fuel alarm sounding. i know there is fuel in the vehicle. fuel sensing unit is malfuncting. | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 63000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2007 buick rainier. the contact stated that the fuel gauge was providing inaccurate fuel level readings and would read that the tank was empty when it was actually full to capacity. when the tank was empty, the fuel gauge would read that the tank was full. the dealer informed the contact that her warranty would not cover the cost to repair this particular failure. the manufacturer advised the contact that they would only be willing to cover fifty percent of the repair costs. the contact was awaiting repairs. the current mileage was 64,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 63,000. the vin was unavailable. | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 63000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2007 buick rainier. the contact stated that the fuel gauge was providing inaccurate fuel level readings and would read that the tank was empty when it was actually full to capacity. when the tank was empty, the fuel gauge would read that the tank was full. the dealer informed the contact that her warranty would not cover the cost to repair this particular failure. the manufacturer advised the contact that they would only be willing to cover fifty percent of the repair costs. the contact was awaiting repairs. the current mileage was 64,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 63,000. the vin was unavailable. kmj | |||
| 10/01/2011 | 63000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 buick rainier. the contact stated the fuel tank was reading inaccurately. it read empty when the tank was actually full and read full when the tank was actually empty. the dealer informed the contact that her warranty would not cover the cost to repair this particular failure. the manufacturer advised the contact the would only cover half the cost of the repairs. the vehicle was awaiting repairs. the current mileage was 64,000. the approximate failure mileage was 63,000. the vin was unavailable. bw | |||
| 05/12/2011 | 51324 | ||
| Fuel guage will drop to empty and the low fuel light will come on, the driver information center will sound an audible alert and will show low fuel indicator. when you have a full tank of gas it will show a full tank and stay there until you use about 1/8th of a tank and then the fuel guage start malfunctioning. some times the fuel guage will show full and some times it will show empty and all the bells and whistles will activate. i took it to the dealer where i bought the vehicle and they told me gm was aware of the problem and that gm would pay 1/2 of the repair costs which are about $145.00 and the vehicle owner would pay the other 1/2 of the costs. it would take about 2 hours to repair. this is a known problem by gm. | |||
| 05/27/2011 | 54000 | ||
| When fuel tank is filled to full, fuel gauge reads empty and low fuel warning appears on driver information center. fuel gauge starts to indicate fuel level when fuel tank is about 1/2 full. fuel level indication is very inaccurate when fuel level approaches 1/8 tank. very easy to run out of gas. | |||
| 04/10/2011 | 87000 | ||
| My wife was stranded with no gas even though the gas gauge said 1/2 full - took to dealer and they said sender unit was bad, they said it was all too common on this vehicle | |||
| 03/31/2010 | 60000 | ||
| The vehicle fuel gauge is erratic and inaccurate! when the tank is filled it shows empty and displays a low fuel level warning. as the tank draws fuel it fluctuates between full and empty. at one point it would stabilize at a certain level but nowadays it either shows full or empty. i track mileage and fuel use but would not trust the vehicle for safety concerns with other family members since there is no sure fire way to know if/when the vehicle will run out of fuel! i only let them use it when i know it is full and they are only making short local trips. | |||
| 03/25/2011 | 51000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2007 buick rainier. the contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning because the fuel level gauge displayed that the fuel tank was full when in fact it was empty. in addition, the gauge would read that the tank was empty when it was full to capacity. the dealer was contacted and they advised him that there were no recalls for the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 51,000. the vin was unavailable. | |||
| 03/25/2011 | 51000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2007 buick rainier. the contact stated that even though his vehicle didn't have any gas in it the gauge lead him to believe he still had quarter tank of gas and stalled on a major highway. it also does the opposite, after he fills the tank the gauge would read that it was empty. the dealer was contacted and they advised him that their were no recalls. the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 51,000. the vin was unavailable. tb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | |||
| 06/26/2011 | 52345 | ||
| Fuel gauge reading inaccurate. with a full tank when starting and fuel level gauge slowing showing empty knowing i have just filled the tank. the level fluctuates up and down creating frustration and anxiety. my wife is now afraid to drive the vehicle. this has brought much apprehension while driving thinking there is a leak in the system. | |||