What 280 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 GMC Acadia Limited

I WENT TO OPEN THE BACK OF MY ACADIA, PUSHED THE BUTTON AND AS IT RAISED I STARTED TO PUT A WINDOW IN THE BACK AND THE LIFTGATE MADE A STRANGE NOISE AND BEFORE I KNEW IT THE LIFTGATE STARTED TO COME DOWN WHILE I WAS STILL HOLDING THE WINDOW....IT DIDN'T STOP EVEN THOUGH IT HIT ME AND MADE MY FACE HIT THE EDGE OF THE WINDOW AND I HAD TO PUSH BACK REALLY HARD AND THEN SQUIRM MY WAY OUT STILL HOLDING THE WINDOW. PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING, I HAVE HAD NO ISSUES WITH THE LIFTGATE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE LIGHT SWITCH FELL ON THE DASHBOARD AND WAS HARD TO REACH FROM THE DRIVER SEAT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A TEMPORARY REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. MA 09/25 UPDATED 01/27/16*LJ UPDATED 12/05/2017*CN

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MY 2011 GMC ACADIA DENALI HAD A DRL GO OUT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND A NEW BULB WAS REPLACED. THEY INFORMED ME IT STILL DID NOT WORK WITH JUST A NEW BULB. THE ACADIA WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS LOOKED AT AGAIN AND THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX THE LIGHT AND GET IT RUNNING. I GOT HOME A WEEK LATER AND NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE BULB WAS NOW OUT. AS I LOOKED INTO THE HOUSING I CAN SEE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING WAS SLIGHTLY MELTED AND BECOMING SEVERELY CRACKED WHERE THE BULB IS NO LONGER BEING SECURED BY THE LIGHT. AFTER SEEING THAT I PROCEEDED TO LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL LIGHT THAT WAS OUT AND THAT HOUSING WAS THE SAME WITH A LARGE PIECE OF THE CHROME LIGHT HOUSING MISSING, AND AGAIN THE LIGHT WAS JUST HANGING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT AND NOT SECURED TO THE HOUSING. LOOKING AT THIS THREAD AND OTHER FORUMS, THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH GMC ACADIA'S. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT CERTAINLY IF THIS IS HAPPENING LIKE THIS IT WAS A POOR DESIGN BY GM AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT NO COST. I HOPE ENOUGH PEOPLE BRING THIS UP AS A FIRE HAZARD, TO MAKE IT BECOME A COMPANY RECALL.

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I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE GMC DEALER THAT MY STEERING COLUMN IS LEAKING FLUID. APPARENTLY, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM, AS IT IS ALL OVER EVERY GMC ACADIA FORUM AS WELL AS LOGGED IN YOUR DATABASE. WHY IS A RECALL NOT BEING ISSUED FOR THIS? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE YOU ARE WILLING TO ISSUE A RECALL? THIS IS ABSURD. MY FAMILY IS NOW SPENDING $1,700 FOR THIS REPAIR.

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7/12/15 CINCINNATI, OHIO JUST AS OTHERS HERE, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE TECH THAT THE STEERING GEAR/RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY AND WOULD COST $1200 AND ONLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED IF STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2011 GMC ACADIA. PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THESE PARTICULAR COMPLAINTS. IT VERY ALARMING TO BE INFORMED THAT A REOCCURRING ISSUE WILL NOT BE RESOLVED UNLESS THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT'S ALSO CONCERNING THAT SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE AND MALFUNCTIONING STEERING GEAR/RACK. THIS IS A OBVIOUSLY A CONSISTENT COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

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2011 GMC ACADIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG RECALL ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE AIR BAG RECALL NOTICE IN JULY 2014. HE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY HALF OF THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *JB

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MY PASSENGER DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT BURNT OUT 9 MONTHS AGO AND WHEN I HAD IT REPLACED THEY TOLD ME THE CONNECTOR WAS A LITTLE WARM AND TO WATCH IT. IT JUST BURNT OUT AGAIN ON JUNE 3RD, AND I HAD IT REPLACED JUNE 10TH. THEY TOLD ME THE CONNECTOR WAS HOT AND I SHOULD HAVE IT LOOKED AT IN THE SERVICE CENTER TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS HOT. IT WAS BURNT OUT JUNE 11TH, AND I HAD A SERVICE APPOINTMENT SET UP FOR JUNE 15TH. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IT WILL COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK. IF IT IS GETTING SO HOT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR ISSUE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED FLUID LEAKING OUT OF THE AIR VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER LINE BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

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I WAS JUST TOLD BY THE GMC DEALER THAT MY STEERING GEARS ARE NOT WORKING AND ARE LEAKING FLUID. THEY SAID IF IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE BOOT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. APPARENTLY, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM, AS IT IS ALL OVER EVERY GMC ACADIA FORUM AS WELL AS LOGGED IN YOUR DATABASE. WHY IS A RECALL NOT BEING ISSUED FOR THIS? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN ENGINEERING OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A CRASH, INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE YOU ARE WILLING TO ISSUE A RECALL? THIS IS REALLY FRUSTRATING. THE GMC DEALER QUOTED ME $1,700 FOR THIS REPAIR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

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WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 30 MPH TO 60 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGINS TO MISS, ESPECIALLY UPHILL. THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SHAKE TERRIBLY. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE, I WAS ASKED IF THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. IT WAS NOT BUT THE DEALERSHIP HAD ME BRING IT IN ANYWAY. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE OR FOUR TIMES NOW. I HAVE PAID TO HAVE THE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANED AS WELL AS THE SPARK PLUGS AND PLUG COILS REPLACED. THESE ARE EXPENSIVE PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY EXTENDED WARRANTIES. IN THE END, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT UNLESS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON TO 'MAP' THE PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T HELP ME. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LIGHT BULB MELTED INSIDE THE HEAD LAMP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE LIGHT BULB BECAUSE THE BULB MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

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TOOK 2011 GMC ACADIA IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE TODAY AND ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO CHANGE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DAYTIME HEADLIGHT BULB SINCE IT HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A FEW DAYS. WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THE BULB SOCKET WAS CORRODED AND MELTED AND WILL NEED A WHOLE NEW HEADLAMP COSTING 995 FOR THE HEADLAMP AND 400 FOR LABOR. I ASKED WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN AND WAS TOLD IT SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH GMC ACADIA'S AS THEY HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHERS OF THE SAME MAKE AND YEAR. OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND A MANUFACTURING ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT THE OTHER SIDE MAY MELT AND CORRODE AS WELL AS THAT IS WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING WITH OTHER ACADIA'S RECENTLY. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT HAD BURNED OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING MELTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE RUNNING LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY MELTED AND CRACKED, WHICH CAUSING THE RUNNING LIGHT TO MALFUNCTION. THE LIGHT BULBS WERE REPLACED BUT THE SAME FAILURE RECURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT WATER WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THE NUMBER FIVE COIL WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000. ...UPDATED 05/14/15 *BF

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GMC SENT A LETTER OUT SAYING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON IT.IN MY CASE THE POWER STEERING PUMP WOULD QUIT AT TIMES AND IT HAD NO POWER STEERING FELT LIKE MANUAL STEERING. BUT BEFORE I COULD BRING IT IN TO GET REPLACED IT WAS LEAKING FLUID WHICH CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO GO BAD. I EXPLAINED THIS TO THE MANAGER AND HE SAID THE RACK AND PINION WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS WHICH COST ME $1372.00 I SENT GMC A EMAIL TO COMPLAIN AND THEY CALLED BACK SAYING THE DEALER WOULD CALL ME WHICH THEY NEVER HAVE I LEFT THEM A MESSAGE TO CALL ME AND A NUMBER TO REACH ME BUT NOW NOBODY WANTS TO CALL ME BACK I THINK THEY WANT ME TO FORGET ABOUT THIS.I SAID A RACK AND PINION SHOULD NOT GO BAD ON A TRUCK WITH JUST 48800 MILES ON IT AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSED THIS WHICH THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

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VEHICLE WAS SLOWING TO TURN AND AT 15MPH THE STEERING LOCKED UP MAKING THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE. VEHICLE WAS STOPPED BY MEDIAN CURB AND STEERING SOMEHOW UNLOCKED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE STEERING GEAR, RACK AND PINION, AND POWER STEERING PUMP. NOW A LITTLE OVER 18MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED LOSING POWER STEERING AGAIN. DEALERSHIP IS QUOTING ME $2100 TO FIX WHEN THEY REPLACED THE LAST PART UNDER A WARRANTY/RECALL. *TR

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SEAT BELT LATCH CABLE FOR MIDDLE ROW DRIVERS SIDE SEAT FAILS. CABLE SEEMS TO BE STRETCHING OUT ON REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE 2ND CABLE REPLACEMENT SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN AUGUST 2010. HAD CABLE REPLACED IN JULY 2013 AND USED MIDDLE ROW SEAT APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES SINCE THEN BUT CABLE STRETCHED AND LATCH FAILED AGAIN. THIS FAILURE COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY IN THE CASE OF A HEAD ON COLLISION AS PASSENGERS IN DRIVERS SIDE MIDDLE ROW SEAT COULD BE HURLED FORWARD IF SEAT IS NOT LATCHED APPROPRIATELY. *TR

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JUST AS OTHERS HERE, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE STEERING GEAR/RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY AND ONLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED IF STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2011 GMC ACADIA. PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THESE PARTICULAR COMPLAINTS. IT VERY ALARMING TO BE INFORMED THAT A RECURRING ISSUE WILL NOT BE RESOLVED UNLESS THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT'S ALSO CONCERNING THAT SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE AND MALFUNCTIONING STEERING GEAR/RACK. THIS IS A OBVIOUSLY A CONSISTENT COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. *TR

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DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE STEERING GEAR/RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY REQUIRED REPLACEMENT DUE TO POWER STEERING FLUID LEAK. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY AND ONLY THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED IF STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WITH THE 2011 GMC ACADIA. PLEASE CONSIDER TAKING THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THESE PARTICULAR COMPLAINTS. IT VERY ALARMING TO BE INFORMED THAT A RECURRING ISSUE WILL NOT BE RESOLVED UNLESS THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT'S ALSO CONCERNING THAT SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKAGE AND MALFUNCTIONING STEERING GEAR/RACK. THIS IS A CONSISTENT COMPLAINT AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION. *TR

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MY POWER STEERING HAS MADE A HIGH PITCHED NOISE FOR SOME TIME NOW. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER WHICH ADDRESSED POTENTIAL POWER STEERING FAILURE I WAS TOLD THAT THE ONLY WAY IT WOULD BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE WAS IF I HAD POWER STEERING FAILURE. I JUST TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC FOR A SEPARATE ISSUE AND HE TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SERVICED SEVERAL ACADIA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ENGINEERING DEFECT. IN RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I AM FINDING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A DEATH OR POTENTIALLY MULTIPLE DEATHS FROM THIS DEFECT BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED? IT WOULD SEEM THAT TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE WOULD BE A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 GMC ACADIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, ENGINE REDUCE POWER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SPEED DECREASED TO 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,988.

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WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 ACADIA THE LOW FUEL LIGHT CAME ON, I GO TO FILL UP AND THERE'S 3/4 OF A TANK STILL FULL. THE NEXT MORNING I STILL HAD A LOW FUEL READING AND NOW A SERIVCE ENGINE LIGHT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL AND/OR COMPUTER SYSTEMS CAUSING A FALSE LOW FUEL READING AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER YEAR MODELS, BUT NOT 2011. IS THERE SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO EXPAND THE RECALL? OR WILL GMC CORRECT THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER YEAR MODELS? *JS

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DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES IN 35316 MILES (CURRENT MILEAGE ON VEHICLE). THE INTERNET HAS MANY PEOPLE STATING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MELTED WIRING HARNESS, MELTED HOUSING AND MORE. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE IT AS AN ISSUE. THIS IS SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND CONSTANT FAILURE IS NOT A SAFE CONDITION. *TR

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I WAS DROPPING MY SON OFF TO SCHOOL, DOING ABOUT 20 MPH WHEN MY CAR DASH STARTED BLINKING OFF AND ON SAYING TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF; CHECK TRACTION CONTROL; AND THEN THE CAR JUST STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WITH MY SON IN THE BACK SEAT. I FOUND OUT THAT MY COMPUTER SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTION AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ON INSTALLED. *TR

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