In a bid to not be outdone and prove that they still matter, GM in under scruity also

Jstas
Jstas Posts: 14,806
edited February 2010 in The Clubhouse
From Autoblog...

NHTSA reportedly investigating Chevrolet Cobalt power steering failures

Proof that there are other automakers also under the scrutiny of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration: The Chevrolet Cobalt is under federal investigation for steering-related safety issues. To date, the NHTSA has reported 1,132 consumer complaints about a sudden loss of power steering in 2005-09 Chevrolet Cobalt and 2008-09 Chevrolet Cobalt SS models. While a loss of steering assist should not immediately lead to a crash, consumers have reported "difficulty controlling the vehicle, such as departing from the desired travel lane."

The NHTSA has recorded 11 crashes and one injury attributed to the power steering failure, with potentially 905,000 vehicles affected by the investigation. There have been no deaths reported. "We are cooperating with the agency in the investigation," said GM. The automaker will replace the Cobalt with the Chevrolet Cruze for the 2011 model year.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/02/03/nhtsa-reportedly-investigating-chevrolet-cobalt-power-steering-f/



Like the article says, power steering does not necessarily lead to a crash but the ensuing difficulty in controlling the direction of the vehicle could. No reported deaths but a single injury in 11 crashes attributed to the problem but with over 1100 complaints, can't ignore it. So GM threw it's hat in the ring now too.

2010...the year of the recall.

So far, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Honda, BMW and Porsche have all issued recalls this year and we are only a week in to February, not even a full week at that.

It's pandemonium!
Expert Moron Extraordinaire

You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
Post edited by Jstas on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,383
    edited February 2010
    These cars use electronic power steering(steer by wire)... IIRC there is no direct lingk from the steering column to the steering rack...

    What the hell were they thinking? I think my next car will be something without computers. Something along the lines of a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado or 1963 Buick Riviera
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jz0h4d
    jz0h4d Posts: 33
    edited February 2010
    Chevy cobalts do not have steer by wire.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited February 2010
    Scrutiny*

    And it's not a good time to be an auto-manufacturer nowadays.
    MrNightly wrote: »
    "Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
    My System:


    TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
    HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited February 2010
    ryanjoachim wrote: »
    Scrutiny*

    And it's not a good time to be an auto-manufacturer nowadays.

    Yeah, noticed it after I posted and I can't change it.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,383
    edited February 2010
    jz0h4d wrote: »
    Chevy cobalts do not have steer by wire.

    Yes, they do. This is an article about GM sueing one of their suppiers over defects in them...

    http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-sues-supplier-over-electric-power-steering-problems.html

    I coined steer-by-wire when I was writing service at a GM store.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited February 2010
    Jstas wrote: »
    Yeah, noticed it after I posted and I can't change it.

    I know, I just like giving you flak sometimes, since it seems everyone else gets to do it a lot more than me!
    MrNightly wrote: »
    "Dr Dunn admitted that his research could also be interpreted as evidence that women are shallower than men. He said: "Let's face it - there's evidence to support it."
    mystik610 wrote: »
    Best Buy is for people who don't know any better. Magnolia is for people who don't know any better and have more money to spend.
    My System:


    TV: SAMSUNG UN55B7000 55" 1080p LED HDTV
    HTPC: Chromecast w/ Plex Media Server. Media streamed from Media Server.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited February 2010
    Ok, maybe I'm being stupid, but why would you need power steering in a
    Cobalt? Try a 1960 Chevy Bel Air with no power steering. Pussies!
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jz0h4d
    jz0h4d Posts: 33
    edited February 2010
    I believe what you are thinking of is electric power assisted steering.
    An electric motor is used instead of a hydraulic pump for the power assist.
    If there is a failure of the electric motor the steering wheel is still capable of steering the vehicle.

    If you coined the phrase "steer-by-wire" I believe you did a great disservice to the corporation.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,383
    edited February 2010
    jz0h4d wrote: »
    I believe what you are thinking of is electric power assisted steering.
    An electric motor is used instead of a hydraulic pump for the power assist.
    If there is a failure of the electric motor the steering wheel is still capable of steering the vehicle.

    If you coined the phrase "steer-by-wire" I believe you did a great disservice to the corporation.


    I stand by my main point in that the system is junk. The electrical motor tends to impart a rachetting feel to the steering wheel that can be quite disconcerting when compared to the smooth operation of the fluid based systems used previously. We had several dozen cars that were lemon lawed due to this concern alone, and one that the electrical control failed while the car was being driven on the 405 Sepulveda Pass. The car involved hit the center divider and came back across traffic lanes, collecting a Mercedes and a Honda in the process. Nobody was hurt badly but traffic did not move for more than three hours while they picked up the mess.

    I do not buy the premise that control remains with the driver in these cars. Even within our stereo/ht rigs, electronics sometimes do what they want to do and not what we tell them. Cars are far to complex these days, but when it comes to control systems (brakes,steering,throttle) in cars, control must always belong to the driver with failsafes in place to guarantee absolute control.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited February 2010
    What is wrong with good old rack and pinion steering???
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited February 2010
    Jstas wrote: »
    So far, Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Honda, BMW and Porsche have all issued recalls this year and we are only a week in to February, not even a full week at that.

    It's pandemonium!

    This may have been issued late last year....in the current issue of Consumer Reports, it was noted that Volvo recalled some of its cars for problem with the fuel pump.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • michaeljhsda2
    michaeljhsda2 Posts: 2,182
    edited February 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    These cars use electronic power steering(steer by wire)... IIRC there is no direct lingk from the steering column to the steering rack...

    What the hell were they thinking? I think my next car will be something without computers. Something along the lines of a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado or 1963 Buick Riviera

    John,
    I know a guy that's selling a cherry 1966 Buick Electra 225 right here in this forum and he's willing to deal ;) BTW, how is that old Beatles album sounding?
    SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    Silk Audio MS-90-BT integrated tube amp
    Yaqin MS-20L integrated tube amp
    SDA 2B TL's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Danny Tse
    Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
    edited February 2010
    sucks2beme wrote: »
    Try a 1960 Chevy Bel Air with no power steering. Pussies!

    Wow! That must be rough. I had a '89 Mitsubishi Mighty Max pickup back in the day with no power steering, and parallel parking that thing had me sweating like I was working out.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jstas
    Jstas Posts: 14,806
    edited February 2010
    Danny Tse wrote: »
    This may have been issued late last year....in the current issue of Consumer Reports, it was noted that Volvo recalled some of its cars for problem with the fuel pump.

    The "current issue" of Consumer Reports was likely assembled weeks ago if not months and has out of date info. Most magazines published on a monthly basis usually have a 2 month lead time on "breaking news" because of publication allowances. Some can squeeze some "current" info in to a couple pages at the last minute but even then it's usually a month old by the time you are reading it in the news stand.
    Expert Moron Extraordinaire

    You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,383
    edited February 2010
    michaeljhsda2 wrote: »
    John,
    I know a guy that's selling a cherry 1966 Buick Electra 225 right here in this forum and he's willing to deal ;) BTW, how is that old Beatles album sounding?

    The '66 electra's are a nice car, but I would want one with a 455 in it. As for the Beatles, it is amazing! I copied it to a cd so I dont have to touch it. I treasure that album more than any other in my collection and I am grateful to you for it.:D
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • THEJERMON
    THEJERMON Posts: 96
    edited February 2010
    nooshinjohn wrote: »
    The '66 electra's are a nice car, but I would want one with a 455 in it. As for the Beatles, it is amazing! I copied it to a cd so I dont have to touch it. I treasure that album more than any other in my collection and I am grateful to you for it.:D

    Hey John. Wanting the 455, I am assuming you are speaking of the pounds of torque? In 1966, the 425 c.i. was the biggest engine with 340 hp. and 465 pounds of torque. That decal on the breather was pounds of torque. :)
    And if you are speaking of the pounds of torque, do you happen to know what ci the 455 was?
    The Buick Wildcat engine 445 was a 401 ci.
    " " 455 was ?
    " " 465 was the 425 ci.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter