Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Omaha Steve

(99,079 posts)
Wed Jun 18, 2014, 09:54 PM Jun 2014

GM employee warned of stalling in Impalas in '05

Source: AP-Excite

By PAUL WISEMAN

WASHINGTON (AP) — General Motors employee Laura Andres was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Impala home when she hit a bump in the road. The engine stalled, and the Impala came to a dead stop. The car behind her had to swerve to avoid a collision. Andres took the car into the shop, and a technician identified the most likely culprit as a faulty ignition switch.

In an e-mail to 11 GM colleagues, she wrote: "I think this is a serious safety problem ... I'm thinking big recall."

Andres wrote the e-mail Aug. 30, 2005. The Impala was finally recalled Monday — eight and a half years after she sounded the alarm. GM said a key with too much weight on it can cause the switch to move from "run" to "accessory" and stall the engine.

Still, Andres warning came back to haunt GM Wednesday in a congressional hearing into faulty ignition switches that have been linked to 13 deaths and have forced GM to recall 2.6 million small cars, such as the Chevrolet Cobalt and Saturn Ion.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140618/us-gm-recall-employee-warning-d0f8481e76.html

11 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
GM employee warned of stalling in Impalas in '05 (Original Post) Omaha Steve Jun 2014 OP
I own a '06 iamthebandfanman Jun 2014 #1
My 09 Colbat got stuck in the run position Omaha Steve Jun 2014 #2
So ive been told.. iamthebandfanman Jun 2014 #3
Dealership should have it Omaha Steve Jun 2014 #4
Google "implied warranty of merchantability." Brigid Jun 2014 #9
What crap they get away with when they compare costs of recall v costs of litigation and disregard lonestarnot Jun 2014 #5
Well just tell the impalas to get a move on it already! Fearless Jun 2014 #6
This ought to do it: Brigid Jun 2014 #10
Thank you much! Fearless Jun 2014 #11
I know they're not in the recall, but I had problems with my 2000 Impala. tanyev Jun 2014 #7
+1 toby jo Jun 2014 #8

iamthebandfanman

(8,127 posts)
1. I own a '06
Wed Jun 18, 2014, 10:08 PM
Jun 2014

Saturn ion 3 ...
and when I purchased it in early 07 and went to Saturn forums on the internet.... the ignition/key problem was already known by folks on there.. and they had stated theyd contacted Saturn several times about it.. multiple people.
they did nothing.

heck, when I took mine in to be 'repaired' after mine got stuck in the ON position (couldn't turn the car off)...
they told me flat out 'we have to replace this with another defective part because they haven't made a new one yet'.. again.. that was 08... and at a damn GM dealership.
I ended up having to fix the problem two separate times for a total of around 700-800 bucks.. and was paying for another waiting to break part! lol

now all of a sudden I have every symptom of every recall they've issued.. had the power steering cut off (which they don't even have a fix for yet but acknowledge) the other day while going around 40 down a curvy hill.. that was awesome..
not to mention something in the car is now draining my battery at the rate of a full charge in 48 hours without even using the car at all...

yay!

so glad I worked hard to give GM 17 grand

Omaha Steve

(99,079 posts)
2. My 09 Colbat got stuck in the run position
Wed Jun 18, 2014, 10:17 PM
Jun 2014

I was going to go to physical therapy. Had to run to the dealer instead. They knew it was a Cobalt before I said it.

We get any $ spent on that replacement back. I think I was out of warranty and my extended kicked in after my $50 deductable.

iamthebandfanman

(8,127 posts)
3. So ive been told..
Wed Jun 18, 2014, 10:35 PM
Jun 2014

but I have no record of it anymore and don't even use the same bank..

hoping they have records of the repair at the dealership.. wont hold my breath. lol

 

lonestarnot

(77,097 posts)
5. What crap they get away with when they compare costs of recall v costs of litigation and disregard
Wed Jun 18, 2014, 10:39 PM
Jun 2014

people altogether in the end.

tanyev

(42,363 posts)
7. I know they're not in the recall, but I had problems with my 2000 Impala.
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 08:13 AM
Jun 2014

When I hit the gas pedal, sometimes it would hesitate and then as I kept pressing it would catch, often propelling me forward faster than I meant. Made me a little nervous, but the last straw was when it hesitated and stopped, stranding me in an intersection. We paid for the repairs, but traded it in shortly afterward because I could still feel it hesitate sometimes. I hope nobody else was hurt in it.

I really did consciously buy American made cars for the first couple decades of my driving life. And I'm sorry, but every car I owned had major mechanical problems. I'm on my second Subaru now and they have been the most reliable cars I have ever owned.

 

toby jo

(1,269 posts)
8. +1
Thu Jun 19, 2014, 09:53 AM
Jun 2014

I owned a subaru once and never had a problem with it. My current '04 Impala is in the shop for a new engine. There's a gasket that blows between the engine and the block - causes the car to overheat and shut down. Also causes dead cylinders. "They're known for that", says the mechanic. My '04 Denali has been in the shop since I got it for hauling last year - 80,000 m and been one thing after another. Stalling, air ride shot, waiting now for a radiator.

I'm going back to Dodge or Subaru with next purchase.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»GM employee warned of sta...