NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-014: Fuel level gauge system failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE11-014 on April 25, 2011 and closed it on September 23, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists 6 models from 4 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE11-014 (also written PE11014)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed September 23, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Components
- Fuel System, Other; Fuel System, Other — Storage — Fuel Gauge System
- Vehicles and equipment
- 6 models from 4 makes, including the Buick Rainier and Chevrolet Trailblazer 360
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-014.
The office of defects investigations (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by General Motors (GM) as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.
In total, there were 5,089 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving.
General Motors stated that this condition occurs when the contacts of the fuel sensor wear prematurely.
Most of the complaints indicated an empty fuel gauge reading after filling the tank.
Less than 10 percent of theODI complaints involved an engine stall incident.
During this investigation, GM developed a remedy procedure and issued special coverage bulletin instructing dealers to install a new design fuel level sensor.
The bulletin was sent to dealers on August 10, 2011 and the owner letter mailing began on August 15, 2011.
See the investigative file for copies of GM's bulletin and owner letter.
This preliminary evaluation is closed.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-014. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Buick
All Buick recallsChevrolet
Chevrolet Trailblazer 360
- 2005, 2006, 2007
Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370
- 2005, 2006
GMC
GMC Envoy 360
- 2005, 2006, 2007
GMC Envoy XL 370
- 2005, 2006
Saab
All Saab recallsWhat an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE11-014
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.