NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE11-021: Transmission Cable Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE11-021 on May 20, 2011 and closed it on November 22, 2011. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2007 Saturn Aura for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE11-021 (also written PE11021)
- 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 November 22, 2011
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Components
- Power Train; Power Train — Automatic Transmission; Power Train — Automatic Transmission — Gear Position Indication (PRNDL); Power Train — Driveline
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2007 Saturn Aura
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 PE11-021.
GM advised that the shift cable's protective outer conduit (jacket) deteriorates with time and use.
Variables that affect jacket life include installation variability (routing, etc), environmental and temperature effects, and material quality.
Jacket deterioration could lead to a tear of the conduit material which allows moisture to reach the lay wires, potentially causing them to corrode and weaken.
The lay wires provide support to the inner core wire that performs the shift detent actuation of the transmission.
Without sufficient lay wire support, the shifter position inside the vehicle and the actual transmission gear selection may not match.
A complete loss of shift function can occur when the core wire fractures and fails fully.
GM asserts that the problem primarily affects the four-speed equipped subject vehicles, but not the six-speed transmissions, and notes that similar cable installations are used in other model and MY GM vehicles (2004-2008 Chevrolet Malibu and 2005-2008 Pontiac G6). In reviewing consumer reports ODI notes multiple failure modes that occur as the cable allegedly fails and shift function is affected.
One involves an engine no-start condition where the gear shifter is in the park position but the transmission is actually in drive or reverse gear (engine starting is inhibited in this circumstance).
A second involves non-powered vehicle movement where the driver turns the engine off and moves the shifter to park but the transmission fails to engage the park gear; the vehicle may roll away if the driver exits without setting the park brake.
A third involves powered vehicle movements, where the driver moves the gearshift but the transmission fails to engage the intended gear, and the engine remains running.
For instance the driver can shift to park but the transmission may remain in drive or reverse, resulting in vehicle movement when the driver does not expect it.
Or the driver may shift to reverse but the transmission remains in drive, resulting in the vehicle moving in a direction opposite to that the driver intended.
Another failure mode results in complete loss of shifting. Both NHTSA and GM have received complaints alleging one or more of these failure scenarios, and in some cases consumers report experiencing multiple problems over the course of several drive cycles.
In the crash incident reported to NHTSA (ODI 10383044) the driver reportedly placed the gear shift selector into park but the transmission remained in drive causing the vehicle to unexpectedly move (accelerate) forward and strike a building.
In one of the crash incidents reported to GM, the driver placed the shifter in park but the transmission remained in reverse.
When the driver exited with the engine running, the vehicle continued (accelerated) in reverse and struck a building.
In the injury incident reported to GM, the driver reportedly placed the shifter in park, exited the vehicle, and was struck when the vehicle unexpectedly rolled backwards. ODI is upgrading this investigation to evaluate the frequency of shift cable failure, the consequences, and the scope of vehicles that may be affected, including the models, model years and transmissions types.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE11-021. 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.
Saturn
Saturn Aura
What 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 PE11-021
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.