NHTSA Complaint #10816848 — 2002 GMC ENVOY

WHILE DRIVING THE ENVOY AT ABOUT 45 MPH, A WARNING LIGHT SAYING "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" CAME ON SUDDENLY, THE CAR DROPPED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH, AND THAT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. I CAN TURN OFF AND RESTART THE CAR, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNS WITHIN A MINUTE AFTER DRIVING IT AGAIN. I STARTED INVESTIGATING WHAT THAT MEANS ONLINE, AND, AS WITH ANYTHING ELSE ON THE INTERNET, I SEE MANY OPINIONS, GUESSES, AND POSSIBILITIES. COULD BE A BAD SENSOR, BAD THROTTLE CONTROL, BAD WIRE CONNECTIONS, ETC. BUT THIS MUCH APPEARS CLEAR: (1) IT IS A GM PROBLEM, AND A VERY, VERY COMMON ONE. (2) IT IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THIS SEEMS PRETTY OBVIOUS - THE CAR SUDDENLY LOSES SPEED AND EVIDENTLY SOMETIMES STALLS OUT ALTOGETHER. BUT HEARING ABOUT SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE'S SCARY EXPERIENCES JUST CONFIRMS THIS. (3) IT CAN BE DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX. WHEN I THINK OF THESE FACTS, COUPLED WITH GM'S RECENT HISTORY, I IMMEDIATELY THINK "RECALL." THIS CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE AN APPROPRIATE SITUATION FOR A MANUFACTURER TO STEP IN AND FIX THE ISSUE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET ANGRY WITH GM, GET HURT, OR GET KILLED. I CALLED THE DEALER WHO SOLD THE CAR (I AM THE SECOND OWNER), IN COLUMBUS, OHIO. I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN BRING IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSIS FOR $110. (GEE, THANKS - WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.) THE CUSTOMER REP LOOKED UP THE VIN AND SAID THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RECALL OR ANY SPECIAL POLICY. THEREFORE, I AM CONTACTING YOU IN HOPE THAT SOMETHING ELSE CAN BE DONE.