The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2006 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2006 Malibu Maxx, 2009-2010 HHR (non-turbo), 2010 Cobalt, 2008-2009 Saturn Aura and 2004-2007 Ion, and 2005-2009 Pontiac G6. In the affected vehicles, there may be a sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist that could occur at any time while driving.
The risk
If power steering assist is lost, greater driver effort would be required to steer the vehicle at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will perform one of four bulletins. Parts are not currently available. GM expects to send an interim notification around May 28, 2014. When parts are available, owners will be mailed a second letter to come in to have the applicable bulletin applied. Bulletin 14115 covers model year 2004-2007 Saturn Ion, 2009-2010 Chevrolet HHR and 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts. Dealers will replace the EPS motor. Bulletin 14116 covers model year 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu and Malibu Maxx, 2005-2006 Pontiac G6 and 2008-2009 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from March 1, 2008, through June 27, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly. Bulletin 14117 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from February 1, 2008, through February 28, 2008. Dealers will replace the torque sensor assembly and EPS motor controller unit. Bulletin 14118 covers model year 2008 Chevrolet Malibu, Pontiac G6 and Saturn Aura built from October 1, 2007, through January 31, 2008. Dealers will replace the EPS motor controller unit. The recall began on July 17, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668. GM's number for this recall is N140115. Note: GM bulletin number 14119 will be implemented for model year 2006-2008 and early production of 2009 Chevrolet HHR (non-turbo) and model year 2003 Saturn ION to provide EPS Motor replacement for the life of the vehicle.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
Components: STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Cobalt | 2010 | 574 | 5 |
| Chevrolet HHR | 2009 | 508 | 4 |
| Chevrolet HHR | 2010 | 515 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2004 | 1,147 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2005 | 975 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2006 | 1,117 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2008 | 989 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2009 | 1,509 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 2004 | 434 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 2005 | 326 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Maxx | 2006 | 270 | 4 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2005 | 679 | 5 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2006 | 1,910 | 6 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2008 | 1,080 | 4 |
| Pontiac G6 | 2009 | 713 | 4 |
| Saturn Aura | 2008 | 432 | 4 |
| Saturn Aura | 2009 | 390 | 4 |
| Saturn ION | 2004 | 898 | 8 |
| Saturn ION | 2005 | 573 | 3 |
| Saturn ION | 2006 | 1,235 | 4 |
| Saturn ION | 2007 | 876 | 5 |
Other steering recalls in 2014
30 of the 770 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2014 concerned the steering; General Motors LLC filed 272 campaigns in all.
| 14V829000 30 Dec 2014 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V812000 23 Dec 2014 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 14V737000 18 Nov 2014 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 14V731000 13 Nov 2014 | PACCAR Incorporated |
| 14V723000 12 Nov 2014 | Setra of North America |
| 14V719000 10 Nov 2014 | General Motors LLC |
| 14V704000 5 Nov 2014 | Ford Motor Company |
| 14V665000 22 Oct 2014 | Neely Coble Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2014