What 630 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Chevrolet Impala Eco Eassist

SIDE DETECTION MODULE WENT OUT ON BOTH SIDE AFTER IT WAS IMPACTED BY RAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE IS A NEW MODULE HOWEVER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 1300.00 FOR IT BECAUSE IT IS SEALED UP BETTER AND LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE WATER DAMAGE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IF NOT FIXED THAT MY CAR WONT START AND I WOULD HAVE OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID THEY THEIR MODULE HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. BAD PART CHEVROLET THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP.

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SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT STOPPED WORKING DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF THE MODULES. THIS CAUSED MY GAS GAUGE AND ODOMETER TO STOP WORKING. IN ADDITION, THE FOLLOWING LIGHTS CAME ON AND SAID THEY NEEDED TO BE SERVICED: AIR BAGS, TIRES,THEFT SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE. AFTER ALL OF THIS, MY CAR WOULDN'T START. I WAS LEFT STRANDED. THE FAULTY MODULES SCRAMBLED MY COMPUTER IN MY CAR. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR IS AROUND $1400 TO FIX, PLUS THE MODULES WILL FAIL AGAIN AND NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE MODULES ARE A POOR DESIGN FROM GM. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THESE CARS. CURRENTLY, GM HASN'T BEEN HELD RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE DESIGN OF THESE MODULES. NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FAULTY MODULES. WE PAID AND STILL PAY A HEFTY PRICE FOR THIS VEHICLE. I WISH I KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS CAR. MY CAR WAS PARKED AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT, IT WOULDN'T START. I FINALLY WAS ABLE TO START IT. AS I DROVE IT TO THE SHOP, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY SPEED ODOMETER, TURNING SIGNALS OR LIGHTS. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY IN A BUSY CITY. TO LOSE ALL GAUGES, LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND TO HAVE OTHER NUMEROUS "CHECK" LIGHTS COME ON IS VERY UNSAFE. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED.

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THIS HAS NOW OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHEN MY CAR IS IN MOTION, THE STABILITRACK LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND MY CAR BEGINS TO LOSE POWER. I CANNOT DRIVE OVER 35 MILES PER HOUR TOPS, INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA!

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EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BECAME ILLUMINATED. LOST POWER STEERING, CAR BECAME SLUGGISH, LACKED SPEED, AND POWER. BRAKING CONTROL WAS LIMITED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVE ABLE ONLY IN LIMP MODE.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILITRAK WAS FAULTY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHIFT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, THE RADIO AND HEAT FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESET ITSELF; HOWEVER, THE STABILITRAK INDICATOR WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. ALL THE OTHER WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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DURING BRAKING, THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES LURCH FORWARD DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING HARD. THE FEELING CREATED IS LIKE BEING HIT IN THE REST BY ANOTHER CAR AT LOW SPEED. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT INTERSECTIONS CONTAINING CROSSWALKS AND PEDESTRIANS.

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SIDE TRAFFIC DETECTION SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE. CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 15 DAYS AS OF THIS WRITING . WE ARE BEING TOLD THE CONTROL MODULES TO REPAIR THE DEFECT IS NOT AVAILABLE. WE ARE ELDERLY AND CANNOT BE WITHOUT THE USE OF A CAR.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "SERVICE VEHICLE, AIR BAGS, FRONT LAMP DETECTION". THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCGRATH CHEVROLET OF DUBUQUE (3255 UNIVERSITY AVE, DUBUQUE, IA 52003) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TOTALLY INTEGRATED POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN DISPLAYING THE SAME MESSAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,755.

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THE LANE DEPARTURE MODULES GET WET AND ARE LOCATED BEHIND THE REAR TIRE. AS A RESULT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS NOW FAILING I GET MESSAGES THAT MY AIRBAG HAS DEPLOYED. THE GAS GAUGE DROPS TO EMPTY. THE HEAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT WORK. NOW I HAVE UNEXPLAINED WATER IN THE BOTTOM OF MY TRUNK WITH NO SINGS HOW IT GOT THERE. I HONESTY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IN IT NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT AND IT MY GAUGES TELL ME WRONG INFORMATION. IE NO GAS

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THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES BEHIND THE REAR TIRES ARE FAILING AND CAUSING ALL ELECTRONICS TO FAIL. THIS MODULE GOES BAD AND THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, BLINDSPOT MONITORS, HVAC, AIRBAGS, HEADLIGHTS AND GAUGES ALL GO OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN WHEN DRIVING AND IS ERRATIC IN ITS BEHAVIOR. IT ALSO MAKES THE GAS PEDAL HESITATE AND THE CAR BECOMES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO POOR PLACEMENT.

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WHILE DRIVING, SEVERAL FUNCTIONS IN THE CAR WILL TURN OFF. FUNCTIONS INCLUDE HEATING/ COOLING SYSTEM, LIGHTS (DASHBOARD LIGHTS), DOORS LOCK/ UNLOCK AND COLLISION SYSTEMS TURNS OFF. I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES RANGING BACK TO 2018. I'VE TAKING MY CAR TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND FOUND THAT THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ALSO FOUND THE SENSOR IS ON BACK ORDER, WHICH MAKES ME BELIEVE THIS IS A LARGER ISSUE THAN I THOUGHT AND SOME ONE NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER. DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY AND SEVERAL SECURITY FEATURES START TO TURN OFF IS DANGEROUS.

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WHILE ENGINE RUNNING AND VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND/OR IN MOTION THE BRAKE LIGHTS FLASH INTERMITTENTLY. BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE, BUT IT DOES CAUSE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. SAW A RECALL FOR THIS, BUT MY VIN NOT INCLUDED.

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SERVICE POWER STEERING WAS DISPLAYED ON MY VEHICLE WHICH MADE YOU'RE DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THEY COULDN'T FINE ANYTHING WRONG BUT THE PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY THERE. THIS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 1 AND AGAIN ON MARCH 8.

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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WILL COMPLETELY DIE OUT. BLINKERS NOT FUNCTIONING. SEEMS LIKE SOME SORT OF SHORT. ALSO BLIND SPOT ALERT NOT WORKING , FORWARD FACING CAMERA, PARK ASSIST.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000. *TT THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LOST WHEEL SENSOR. *TR

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POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. ABS ERROR LIGHTS AND STABILIZATION ALERT POPPED UP, BUT IT DID NOT CALL OUT THAT POWER STEERING WAS UNAVAILABLE INTIL I HAD LATER SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR.

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE MESSAGE CENTER POPPED UP THE SERVICE POWER ASSIST STEERING, AND THE ABS AND STABILITRAK WERE ALSO DEACTIVATED. THIS ALL HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

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LEFT REAR SIDE DETECTION MODULE AND RELATED WIRING HARNESS FAILED DUE TO CORROSION FROM EXPOSURE TO WATER AND WEATHER ELEMENTS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. PLACEMENT OF MODULE INSIDE THE REAR BUMPER CAUSED MOISTURE TO ACCUMULATE WITHIN MODULE AND ITS RELATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS. DURING FAILURE, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, MODULE SENT ERRATIC SIGNALS TO OBC CAUSING PARTIAL SHUTDOWN OF KEY ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS INCLUDING TURN SIGNALS AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS MODULE HAS A HIGH, PRE-MATURE FAILURE RATE, DUE TO EXPOSURE TO WEATHER ELEMENTS AND ROAD SALT IN NORTHERN STATES. CHEVROLET HAS DIFFICULTY KEEPING SUFFICIENT MODULES IN STOCK AT LOCAL DEALERS. ORDER OUT TIME FOR SUBJECT COMPONENTS IS 3-5 BUISNESS DAYS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, WHILE DRIVING, BUT THE MOTOR KEPT RUNNING. MY WIFE MADE IT HOME. THE (FOR ABOUT 13 TO 15 SECONDS) NEXT MORNING SHE TOOK IT TO WORK, ON THE WAY IT STALLED AND WOULD NOT START. CONSUMER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STILL IT WOULD NOT START. BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLIND SIDE SENSOR WAS CORRODED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO UNPLUG THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE BLIND SIDE SENSOR. AFTER UNPLUGGING THE WIRING HARNESS, THE VEHICLE WAS OPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED GM HAS A BULLETIN OUT ABOUT CORROSION IN BLIND SIDE SENSOR CONNECTION.*JB

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I WAS DRIVING AND I PRESSED ON THE BRAKES THE CARS STARTS JERKING AND IT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS DRAGGING SOMETHING OR SCRAPPING THE GROUND. THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STABILITY LIGHT POPS ON. I'M OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD DOING A LEFT OR A RIGHT TURN WHEN THIS OCCURS AND THE CAR BASICALLY STALLS FOR A MINUTE AND WON'T MOVE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN JERKS REALLY HARD AND STARTS MOVING AGAIN. THIS OCCURS ON THE CITY STREET AND THE HIGHWAY WHEN EXITING OR CHANGING LANES.

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BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL, INDICATED BY THE SIDE MIRROR INDICATORS REMAINING ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. DEALER SERVICE CENTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THE BATTERY WAS OLD. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD ALSO FAIL - ALL INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC.) WOULD GO DEAD, VIRTUALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS (TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AIR BAG, ETC.) WOULD GO ON, HEATING SYSTEM (INCLUDING BLOWER) WOULD GO DEAD AND TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. ALL OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, WHETHER IN CITY TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN AFFECTED, THERE IS NO WAY TO SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS OF A PROBLEM (NO HAZARD LIGHT OR TURN SIGNALS) IN THE EVENT OF A LARGER FAILURE. RESEARCH OF ONLINE CUSTOMER FORUMS SHOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THE LATEST GENERATION (2014 AND NEWER) IMPALA. THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM IS CONNECTED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.

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WE LOST POWER STEERING. THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 BULLETINS ON THE STEERING CONTROL MODULE. TOTAL PSCM FAILURE. DEALER CLAIMS ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. CAR HAS 68 K MILES. WHO WOULD EVER EXPECT TO LOSE THIS CRITICAL SYSTEM ON A WELL CARED FOR CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION

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I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT LAST MONTH ABOUT MY 2014 CHEVY IMPALA'S SIDE DETECTION SYSTEM, BACK UP CAMERA WARNINGS, AND FORWARD COLLISION SYSTEMS ALL NOT WORKING. TODAY I AM ADDING THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN MODERATE RAIN DOING 55MPH, MY STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON, ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST POWER STEERING. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD. I CALLED CHEVY AS SOON AS I GOT HOME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. I WILL BE BRINGING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TOMORROW AS I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING AS WELL WITH THE NEXT THING TO GO IS THE CAR WON'T START. THIS SITUATION IS UNCALLED FOR IN A VEHICLE WITH 45,000 MILES AT A PRICE TAG OF $35,000, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OTHER ISSUES STARTED HAPPENING AROUND D 38,000 MILES. BEFORE TODAY, WHEN I STARTED MY CAR THE SERVICE LIGHTS FOR FRONT CAMERA, PARK ASSIST, AND SIDE DETECTION ALL LIT UP. I DID NOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AT THAT POINT BECAUSE I HEARD IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO FIX NOW I HAVE TO AS THE SAFETY OF DRIVING IT IS SEVERELY UNSTABLE.

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BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM BEGAN TO FAIL, INDICATED BY THE SIDE MIRROR INDICATORS REMAINING ON EVEN AFTER THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. DEALER SERVICE CENTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED A FAULTY LEFT SIDE DETECTION MODULE. THE PROBLEM PROGRESSED TO THE POINT WHERE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD ALSO FAIL - ALL INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, ETC.) WOULD GO DEAD, VIRTUALLY ALL WARNING LIGHTS (TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AIR BAG, ETC.) WOULD GO ON, HEATING SYSTEM (INCLUDING BLOWER) WOULD GO DEAD AND TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHT WOULD BE INOPERATIVE. ALL OF THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, WHETHER IN CITY TRAFFIC OR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN AFFECTED, THERE IS NO WAY TO SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS OF A PROBLEM (NO HAZARD LIGHT OR TURN SIGNALS) IN THE EVENT OF A LARGER FAILURE. RESEARCH OF ONLINE CUSTOMER FORUMS SHOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THE LATEST GENERATION (2014 AND NEWER) IMPALA. REPLACING THE MODULES (AND IN SOME CASES, ALSO THE WIRING HARNESS, WHICH BECOMES CORRODED FROM THE WEATHER) SEEMS TO BE A SHORT TERM FIX AT BEST, AS THE DESIGN OF THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM EXPOSES THE SENSORS AND WIRING HARNESS TO ROAD SPRAY AND RAPID CORROSION DAMAGE. FURTHERMORE, THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM IS CONNECTED TO THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IN A MANNER THAT EVENTUALLY RENDERS THEM INOPERATIVE AS WELL. THIS OCCURS RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING.

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WHEN MY SIDE DETECTION MONITORING SYSTEM FAILED A FEW MONTHS AGO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THEY RESPONDED TELLING ME THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DESIGN FOR THIS SENSOR MODULE/HARNESS IS COMPLETELY FLAWED. THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED IN THE REAR BUMPER, WITH PLASTIC HOUSING. THERE IS NO WEATHER PROTECTION, EVEN THOUGH THESE ARE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE TIRES AND ARE EXPOSED TO ALL WEATHER - PLUS I LIVE IN IL SO WE'RE TALKING RAIN, SNOW, SALT, ETC. IT'S TWO SENSORS AND THE HARNESS. I COULDN'T AFFORD THE $1200 REPAIR, SO I FIGURED I WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE LOSS OF THE SAFETY FEATURE AND IGNORE THE WARNING LIGHT. LAST WEEK, ALL OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON - THEFT DETECTION, FRONT CAMERA, AIRBAG, STABILITRACK, ETC. MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS, TURN SIGNALS, LOCKS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE ALL GOING HAYWIRE, AND AT ONE POINT WHILE DRIVING ALL OF MY GAUGES WENT TO ZERO (NO SPEED LIMIT, RPM, GAS GAUGE, ANYTHING) AND MY HEAT WENT OUT, TURN SIGNALS STOPPED WORKING AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP HOPING THAT MAYBE MY BATTERY (FACTORY ORIGINAL)/WIRING MIGHT BE THE CAUSE. NO SUCH LUCK. AS IT TURNS OUT THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES ARE NOW CORRUPTING ALL SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INCLUDING MY AIR BAGS! THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT THE SIDE DETECTION MODULES HAD FAILED AND WERE CAUSING THE CHAOS THAT IS OCCURRING WITH ALL OF MY OTHER WARNING SYSTEMS, AND THAT MY AIR BAGS NO LONGER WORKED. MY AIR BAGS DON'T WORK BECAUSE OF THIS, NEVERMIND THE EXTREME DANGER IN HAVING A SYSTEM GO HAYWIRE WHILE I'M DRIVING! I'M AT NEARLY 100,000 MILES SO I'M WELL PAST ANY WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER THIS, BUT I HAVE BEEN READING FORUMS AND CARCOMPLAINTS AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A REALLY COMMON ISSUE. THE COST OF THE DIAGNOSTICS, COST OF THE REPAIR, AND ANTICIPATED COSTS OF SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING IT IS A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW.

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