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NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE03017

Preliminary Evaluation · HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON · Opened 2003-04-17 · Closed 2003-08-25

Investigation

Action number
PE03017
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2003-04-17
Close date
2003-08-25
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Affected makes
SATURN
Affected components
EXTERIOR LIGHTING; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS:SWITCH; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
Affected model years
2001, 2002
Affected (make, year) variants
16

Summary

THIS PE WAS OPENED BASED ON SIX ODI COMPLAINTS THAT HEADLAMPS FLICKER OFF AND ON, AND TWO ODI COMPLAINTS THAT THE SWITCH IS HOT TO THE TOUCH.THE INVESTIGATION HAS FOUND NO OCCURRENCES OF HEADLAMPS GOING OUT.THE COMPLAINTS ARE DUE TO SPORADIC DIMMING (FLICKERING) OF THE HEADLAMPS AS A RESULT OF VARIATION OF THE VOLTAGE TO THE HEADLAMPS.GM HAS SHOWN THAT A 1.5 -2.0 VOLTAGE DROP OCCURS WHEN OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES ARE ACTIVATED, HOWEVER AT NO TIME DO THE HEADLAMPS TURN COMPLETELY OFF.WITH RESPECT TO ALLEGATIONS THAT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH IS HOT TO THE TOUCH, GM REPORTS THAT THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF THE SWITCH IS 35 DEGREES C WHICH IS NOT HOT ENOUGH TO BURN A FINGER OR HAND.IN MAY 2001, GM MODIFIED THE HEADLAMP SWITCH CRIMPING OPERATION TO ELIMINATE THE OCCURRENCE OF HOT SWITCHES.ODI EVALUATED THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY RETURNS AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF MELTING OR BURNING. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI investigation page
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