Investigations
Loss of Power Steering Assist
NHTSA Recall Query RQ19001 - closed, opened 2019-05-09.
NHTSA investigation RQ19001 is a Recall Query opened on 2019-05-09 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 2021-05-28 - 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 Recall Query like RQ19001 evaluates whether a previously issued recall is actually fixing the problem. NHTSA opens an RQ when owners continue to report the original defect after the recall remedy is installed, or when completion rates fall short of the agency's expectations for that risk tier.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "In May 2019 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ19-001) to assess the scope of General Motors (GM) recall 16V-054. ODI had received 50 complaints with allegations of loss of electric power..." 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.
Investigation Summary
In May 2019 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Recall Query (RQ19-001) to assess the scope of General Motors (GM) recall 16V-054. ODI had received 50 complaints with allegations of loss of electric power steering assist while the vehicle was in motion. These complaints were for vehicles outside the scope of recall 16V-054 yet exhibited the same symptoms. ODI’s review focused on specific build months outside the recall scope that had a high electric power steering failure rate and failures that were the same or similar to those addressed by the remedy associated with recall 16V-054. ODI’s review of data supplied by GM confirmed a high failure rate for vehicles outside of the recall scope. On March 25, 2021, GM filed a defect information report recalling select 2015 Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon vehicles to remedy a potential loss of power steering assist while driving. The recall (21V-213) includes vehicles that were not addressed by recall 16V-054 and also prompted this recall query. In view of the recall, ODI is closing this recall query. Despite closing this investigation, NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.
About This Investigation Type
A Recall Query (RQ) evaluates the effectiveness of a previously issued recall. NHTSA opens an RQ when consumer complaints suggest that a recall remedy may not be adequately addressing the safety issue, or when the recall completion rate appears insufficient.
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. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.