Preliminary Evaluation · FUEL SPILLAGE DURING REFUELING · Opened 2004-01-05 · Closed 2004-05-07
Investigation
Action number
PE04001
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Open date
2004-01-05
Close date
2004-05-07
Manufacturer
General Motors, LLC
Affected makes
CHEVROLET; GMC; OLDSMOBILE
Affected components
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Affected model years
2003
Affected (make, year) variants
10
Summary
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON THE MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER.BASED ON GM'S INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) RESPONSE, ODI ADDED TO ITS ANALYSIS THE MY 2003 GMC ENVOY AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES SHARE THE SAME VEHICLE PLATFORM (GM 360/370) AND FUEL FILL COMPONENTS.INCIDENT SUMMARY NUMBERS REPORTED ABOVE INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.EPA REGULATES THE FUEL DISPENSING RATES AT FILLING STATIONS AND GM STATES THAT THE REPORTS OF SPITBACK FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE PRINCIPALLY CAUSED BY FUEL DISPENSING PUMPS EXCEEDING THE RATE SPECIFIED BY EPA.ODI FINDS THAT THE RATE OF COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY IS LOW COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR A SPITBACK ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.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.SEE ATTACHED REPORT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.