Investigations
STOP LAMP MALFUNCTION
NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE08054 — closed, opened 2008-09-15 and involving the PONTIAC PONTIAC.
NHTSA investigation PE08054 is a Preliminary Evaluation opened on 2008-09-15 and currently closed. The subject of record is PONTIAC PONTIAC, which places this file inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue for PONTIAC. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2009-01-30 — NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
A Preliminary Evaluation like PE08054 is the entry point of the federal defect-investigation process. NHTSA engineers scan complaint databases, field reports, and manufacturer data to decide whether an Engineering Analysis is warranted, whether a voluntary recall is already sufficient, or whether the pattern does not rise to a defect finding.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 28, 2009, THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF PONTIAC G6 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JANUARY 3 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2005. VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE SHOWN A H..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time. Related PONTIAC files, listed below, give context on whether this is an isolated concern or part of a broader pattern across the brand.
Investigation Summary
GM NOTIFIED THE AGENCY BY LETTER DATED JANUARY 28, 2009, THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF PONTIAC G6 VEHICLES BUILT FROM JANUARY 3 THROUGH JANUARY 31, 2005. VEHICLES PRODUCED DURING THIS TIME PERIOD HAVE SHOWN A HIGHLY ELEVATED INCIDENT RATE OF IMPROPER OPERATION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT CONSUMERS WOULD USE THEIR BRAKES AND DISCOVER THAT THE BRAKE LAMPS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. ALSO, CONSUMERS REPORT THAT THE BRAKE LAMPS WOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT APPLIED. ODI'S REVIEW OF THE COMPLAINT DATA FINDS THAT THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR THE JANUARY 2005 PRODUCTION IS 20 TIMES GREATER THAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. LIKEWISE, THE WARRANTY RATE FOR THE JANUARY 2005 PRODUCTION IS 11 TIMES GREATER THAN FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION. IN ITS LETTER TO THE NHTSA, GENERAL MOTORS (GM) EXPLAINED THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THIS BRAKE CONDITION WAS FRETTING CORROSION (OXIDATION) OF THE CONNECTOR PINS ON THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) THAT CONNECT TO THE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR (BPPS). THE CORROSION PREVENTS THE BCM FROM RECEIVING THE CORRECT SIGNAL VOLTAGE FROM THE BPPS. IN DECEMBER 2008, GM RELEASED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) #08-05-22-009 TO PROVIDE TECHNICIANS THE CORRECT REPAIR PROCEDURES FOR SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT EXPERIENCE IMPROPER ILLUMINATION OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. THIS ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.
About This Investigation Type
A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first phase of NHTSA's investigation process. It is opened when the agency identifies a potential safety defect pattern, usually triggered by consumer complaints, manufacturer reports, or field monitoring. During a PE, NHTSA gathers information to determine whether a formal engineering analysis is warranted.
Other PONTIAC Investigations
HVAC Blower Motor Connector
Passenger Sensing System Sensor Mat
Brake Light Malfunction
Power Window Master Switch Fire
Engine Stall
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. Learn more.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.