What 864 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Chevrolet Cruze Limited

I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE CAR IN A PARKING PLACE. I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPOT AND WHEN I PLACED MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, NOTHING HAPPENED. I LOOKED DOWN AT MY FOOT AND WATCHING MYSELF REPEATEDLY PUMP THE BRAKES. INSTEAD OF STOPPING, MY CAR WENT OVER THE PARKING SPOT YELLOW CURB, OVER A SIDEWALK AND SOME GRASS, AND I HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. BEFORE I HIT THE VEHICLE, I LUCKILY TURNED MY WHEEL, CAUSING LESS DAMAGE TO THE PARKED VEHICLE. AFTER I HIT THE VEHICLE, MY CAR TURNED BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE IT FINALLY STOPPED. I AM NOT SURE IF IT STOPPED BECAUSE OF ME REPEATEDLY PUMPING THE BRAKES, OR THAT I FINALLY RAN OUT OF MOMENTUM, SINCE I HAD NOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR SINCE BEFORE TRYING TO PARK. MY BUMPER IS DAMAGED, HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED BECAUSE I AM TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY 5 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACKSEAT, IN HER BOOSTER SEAT, DURING ALL OF THIS, AND I AM AFRAID THINKING OF HOW WORSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN, WITH THE BRAKES NOT WORKING. I FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL CAR FOR THE BRAKES, AND THAT RECALL WAS BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR.

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MY CHEVY CRUZE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS FROM PAST REPAIRS AND WOULD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD FLASH ON THE DASH, THE CAR WOULD LOSE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES YESTERDAY (6/23/15): WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT A LOW SPEED AND WHILE MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH. DURING YESTERDAY'S INCIDENT I HAD TO GO INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AS MY CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR LOST POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR WOULD GAIN POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THERE HAVE BEEN TWO PRIOR INCIDENTS WHERE MY CAR HAS LOST COMPLETE POWER WHILE DRIVING, BOTH TIMES A SAFETY REPORT HAS BEEN FILED. THIS IS A VERY SCARY ISSUE AND HOPE THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR AGAIN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS, IN BOTH DRIVE AND REVERSE, AND WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND DEACTIVATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V36000 (SERVICE BRAKES), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

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WAS BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPOT IN APARTMENT COMPLEX, BRAKE ASSIST FAILED TO ENGAGE HARD TO STOP REQUIRED A LOT OF [UNEXPECTED] PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL. ALMOST BACKED INTO NEIGHBORS CAR, COULD HAVE BACKED INTO A CHILD. BRAKES CONTINUED TO OPERATE IN SIMILAR MANNER UNTIL I GOT TO THE STREET.. ISSUE SEEMS TO SIMILAR TO CHEVY CRUZE RECALL FOR 1.4TURBO

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I WENT TO MY FATHERS HOUSE AND HE NOTICED THE SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE STRONGLY. HE LOOKED UNDER MY HOOD AND ON THE GROUND AND ITS LEAKING EVERYWHERE. I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR NOT EVEN 4 MONTHS AGO AND THE FIRST WEEK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,725. UPDATED 8/21/15*CN

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THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RADIO, POWER STEERING, STOPS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY . I SLOWED DOWN RECENTLY TO TURN AND THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND I HIT THE CURB. I HAD A PRIVATE MECHANIC TIGHTEN CABLES TO BATTERY WHICH WORKED FOR MONTHS BUT NOW THE PROBLEM IS BACK.

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I WAS TRAVELING APP. 60 MPH DOWN I26 WHEN MY BRAKES COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED. I CAME WITHIN INCHES OF HITTING A TRANSFER TRUCK DUE TO THE INABILITY TO BRAKE. I'VE SOUGHT RESOLUTION FROM CORPORATE CHEVY ALONG WITH MY LOCAL DEALER WHO SIMPLY TESTED THE BRAKES TO TELL ME THEY ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. I DO NOT FEEL SALE IN THE CRUZE. I HAVE CONSTANT ANXIETY WHILE DRIVING. WHO KNOWS WHEN THEY WILL MALFUNCTION AGAIN AND KILL ME AND MY PRECIOUS CHILDREN.

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STRONG SICKENING COOLANT SMELL INSIDE CAR WHILE HEATER SYSTEM IS ON. MAY 7,2015 DEALER PRESSURE CHECKED FOUND NO LEAKS. CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. NO LEAKS VISIBLE. SMELL STILL EXISTS WHILE HEATER IS ON.

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THE ELECTRICAL PAD THAT YOU PUSH TO OPEN THE TRUNK IS FAULTY AND DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. ONLY WAY TO GET INTO TRUNK IS TO PUSH KEY FOB. IF A CHILD OR ADULT GOT TRAPPED INSIDE IT COULD BE HARMFUL DUE TO FACT THAT THE PUSH PAD FOR THE TRUNK OPEN IS FAULTY.

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WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A 4 LINE ROAD WITH NORMAL TRAFFIC, A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES T BONING HER IN HER RIGHT DOOR HITTING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND IT SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME...!!!! I'M REPORTING THIS MATTER AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT? WITNESS STAYED TALKING TO THE POLICE SAYING SHE WAS AT FAULT.

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I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH MY BRAKES ON MY 2012 CHEVY CRUZE. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE I AM HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE STOPPED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY LURCH FORWARD AN INCH. THEN, THE BRAKE LIGHTS BEGAN TO RANDOMLY COME ON WHEN THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING. THIS CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DIE NUMEROUS TIMES. EVENTUALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE FAULT SAID THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR WAS BAD. I HAD THAT REPLACED. NOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT COME ALL THE WAY UP WHEN IT IS LIGHTLY DEPRESSED (LIKE WHEN SLOWING DOWN JUST A LITTLE OR CANCELING THE CRUISE). THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS EITHER HIT THE BRAKES HARD OR PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS AND IT APPEARS THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. TSB #PI0928/NHTSA ID #10052020 DISCUSSES THE "LURCHING". TSB #PIC-5862/NHTSA ID #10053904 DOESN'T SAY IT'S FOR CRUZES, BUT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY TIGHT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO APPLY FORCE IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V288000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE REMEDY WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITH MY SUNROOF RAISED I HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND FELT PIECES OF GLASS FALLING. WHEN I PULLED OVER I NOTICED MY SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. NOTHING HIT MY CAR. I DID NOT HEAR A THUD OR SEE ANYTHING ROLL OFF MY CAR. THERE IS NO DENT. JUST A HOLE WHERE THE GLASS EXPLODED.

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MY CAR STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY ON SATURDAY APRIL 25 2015. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CAR STALLED THEN MADE A LOUD NOISE AND RETURNED TO NORMAL DRIVING. ITS BEEN HAPPENING 5 DAYS NOW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVE WISE INSURANCE TRACKER THAT WAS MAKING THE CAR JERK SO IT WAS REMOVED.THE PROBLEM IS STILL HAPPENING. IT JERKS WHEN I STOP AND GO BUT ITS FINE WHEN I'M AT A STEADY SPEED. *TR

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD CONTINUOUSLY REBOOT THE RADIO AND THE WARNING STABILITRAK LIGHT AS WELL AS THE POWER STEERING WARNING WILL SHOW UP ON THE DASH. THE CAR WOULD EXPERIENCE VERY STIFF STEERING AND I ALMOST GOT INTO A CRASH 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF IT. I TOOK IT TO THE AUTONATION CHEVROLET LAUREL, MD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY. ANOTHER TECHNICIAN FROM TNT AUTO IN COLUMBIA, MD SAID THAT ALL THE WIRES SEEM TO BE ON THERE TIGHT TOO. *TR

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THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY COME ON AND STAY ON WHEN CAR WAS OFF AND SITTING STILL. I REPLACED THE BRAKE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR AND IT SEEMED TO STOP. NOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL DOESN'T COME BACK UP ALL OF THE WAY AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. THIS KEEPS THE BRAKE LIGHT ON AND THE BRAKES SLIGHTLY APPLIED. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT ALL THE WAY UP IS TO PULL IT FROM BEHIND WITH YOUR FOOT. THIS SEEMS TO BE PART OF THE BRAKE PUSHROD AND BRAKE ASSIST ISSUE THEY ARE HAVING, BUT HAVEN'T DONE A RECALL. *TR

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I RECEIVED MY CHEVY CRUZE IN NOVEMBER OF 2014 USED WITH APROX. 59K MILES. APRIL 7TH DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 55-60MPH IT SUDDENLY STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WOULD JERK AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV LIKE IF YOU WERE TO BE IDLE AND IN PARK AND PRESS THE GAS THAT'S THE SOUND IT MADE. I DID NOT NOTICE THE CHECK ENGINE COME ON OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS AS I WAS TRYING TO CONTROL MY CAR. THE SPEEDOMETER AND RPM INDICATOR STARTED ACTING ERRATICALLY WHILE DOING SO. THE GAUGE WOULD GO UP AND DOWN AND THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE STEERING ALSO BECAME VERY SOFT. IF I WERE TO TAKE MY PINKY FINGER AND TURN THE WHEEL IT WOULD HAVE MOVED THAT'S HOW SOFT IT WAS. ALL THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DURING A 30 MINUTE TIME PERIOD. AFTER I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED GOING OVER 30MPH IT WOULD START TO ACT UP AGAIN. WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENED I ONLY HAD 66K MILES. I GOT IT TOWED TO THE DEALER INSTEAD OF TAKING MY CHANCES DRIVING IT THERE. IT WAS SITTING THERE A WEEK BEFORE THEY EVEN TOUCHED IT AND THEY CLAIM THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I THINK CHEVY DEALERS CLAIM THEY CANT FIND ANYTHING WHEN YOUR CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT. *TR

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SINCE MARCH 30, 2015, I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COLLECT VIDEO EVIDENCE WHILE IN FAILURE MODE, OF WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE FAILURES OF THE BODY COMPUTER(S) IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD DISPLAYS HAVE BEEN GOING ON AND OFF UNDER A WIDE VARIETY OF DRIVING SITUATIONS, AND WHILE SITTING AT IDLE. THEY FAULT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SIMPLY DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. DURING THESE FAULTS, THE CENTER INFORMATION DISPLAY FOR THE HVAC AND ENTERTAINMENT WILL FREQUENTLY TURN OFF. THIS KILLS THE RADIO. IT AT TIMES KILLS THE HVAC SYSTEMS AND THE TURN SIGNALS (AT LEAST THE NOISE FOR THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS). AT TIMES, THE CENTER DISPLAY ABOVE THE STEERING COLUMN WILL GO BLACK AND THEN DISPLAY A MESSAGE ABOUT THE STABILITRAK HAVING FAILED AND REQUIRING IT TO BE CHECKED. THEN IT RETURNS TO NORMAL MODE. THIS IS LESS FREQUENT AN OCCURRENCE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ONE INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE THE DISPLAYS WERE IN FAULT MODES. THIS OCCURRED ON APRIL 1, 2015 I BELIEVE. THE DRIVER'S FEET WERE ON THE FLOORBOARDS. NOT TOUCHING ANY PEDALS AT ALL. THE INCIDENT WAS STOPPED BY THE DRIVER FIRMLY PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN SUFFICIENT VIDEO EVIDENCE IS ACCUMULATED ON THESE FAILURES THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP. LACKING ACTUAL DEMONSTRATIVE EVIDENCE OF THE FAILURES, THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT BE ABLE TO KNOW WHAT TO REPAIR OR REPLACE. THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF DASH DISPLAY ISSUES. THE OWNER, A RETIRED LIBRARIAN/RESEARCHER FROM GENERAL MOTORS ADVANCED ENGINEERING STAFF AND THE R&D CENTER, HAS WORKED ON UNINTENDED ACCELERATION LEGAL CASES FOR THE COMPANY, AND HAS SUPPORTED LITIGATION DEFENSE WORK ON SUCH ISSUES WHILE AT THE COMPANY. HE IS STILL GATHERING EVIDENCE BUT FEELS THE NEED TO DOCUMENT THIS INCIDENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR NHTSA SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR TO HIM DUE TO THIS. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A FAILURE IN WHICH THE VALVE COVER FRACTURED AND CAUSED A LEAK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE COVER. UPON PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT SANK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER MORE THAN TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V360000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) BUT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET CRUZE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS AN ANTI FREEZE ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ANTI FREEZE ODOR WAS STRONG, WHICH CAUSED HEADACHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON A SEPARATE OCCASION WHERE DYE WAS ADDED INTO THE RADIATOR TO FIND A LEAK, BUT FAILED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE A PRESSURE TEST WAS PERFORMED BUT THE ANTI FREEZE ODOR BECAME WORSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,600.

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THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR MAKES A GRINDING NOISE THAT CAN BE FELT WHEN TAKING OFF AND TURNING. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE AND OCCASIONALLY IT CAN BE FELT WHEN I AM NOT EVEN TURNING. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT TURNS INTO SOMETHING SERIOUS. *TR

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AFTER I FINISHED CLEARING THE WINDSHIELD OFF BEFORE DRIVING, I TURNED THE WIPERS ON. THEY BOTH TURNED ON, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BRUSHED RIGHT OVER THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER. THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER NO LONGER WORKED. THE WIPER TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN. I REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ON JAN. 22, 2015. ON MARCH 26, 2015, I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN WITH THE WIPERS ON. AFTER TWO LOUD BANGS, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN 1,000 MILES WITH THE NEW WIPER TRANSMISSION BEFORE IT BROKE, TOO. *TR

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I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND THE STABILITRAK CONTROL AND ENGINE POWER LOSS KICKS ON TO THE VEHICLE AND MAKES ME HAVE TO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I'VE ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL WRECKS DO TO THIS HAPPENING, I'VE BEEN IN AND OUT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMESMALL WITH THIS VEHICLE TOMORROW I'M TAKING IT IN FOR THE 7THE TIME NOW THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT'S PUTTING ME AND MY FIANCE LIFE AT RISK, PLEASE SOME THING HAS TO HAPPEN TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF! *TR

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AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN TURNING, THERE IS A GRINDING SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE FELT IN THE FLOORBOARD. AFTER TAKING THIS TO THE DEALER TWICE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER A "NOISE" AND GM WILL NOT COVER AN ISSUE IF THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT CHANGING OUT A $400+ PART MIGHT NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND THE NOISE COULD RETURN AGAIN. *TR

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