NHTSA to investigate GM SUVs 05/04/2011
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced that it will launch an investigation into a number of General Motors SUVs for a problem related to the fuel gauge.
Numerous complaints have been filed with the agency, alleging that in some cases the gauges may incorrectly display the amount of fuel in the vehicle, causing the driver to believe they have more gas than they actually do. In 58 cases, this has led to the operator running out of fuel. One accident was reported as a result of this, when a driver's engine unexpectedly stalled on the highway, causing another car to crash into them. Nobody was hurt in the incident.
Beyond these complaints, U.S. News reports that 610 separate drivers have also notified the NHTSA of the problem, although they did not run out of gas because of it.
The investigation is focusing on nearly 865,000 vehicles manufactured by GM between 2005 and 2007. Specifically, the Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7X, GMC Envoy and Chevrolet Trailblazer are being targeted. All of these vehicles were built on very similar platforms. It's worth noting, however, that Saab is no longer a part of GM, as the automotive giant sold the brand off to Spyker Cars in 2010.