NHTSA Complaint #10840346 — 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE A CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT. $122 LATER, MY VEHICLE WAS FOUND TO HAVE A "FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE." I WAS QUOTED OVER $1000 IN REPAIRS AND GIVEN NO OTHER OPTIONS. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS IN LIEU OF CONFIRMING WITH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THAT SERVICE DEPARTMENT BEFORE REGARDING A FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM (WHICH WAS RECALLED AND I WAS NOT INFORMED). MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE PASSENGER SENSING UNIT WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT THIS PART (MUCH LIKE THE DEBACLE WITH MY FUEL PUMP) WAS ALSO A RECALLED. I AM REFERRING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN#07V344000. MY VIN# IS INCLUDED WITHIN THE DESIGNATED VIN BREAKING POINTS; HOWEVER, IT DOES NOT QUALIFY INDIVIDUALLY. I FIND THIS INFURIATING. IF THE PART IS KNOWN TO BE FAULTY, AND IT'S THE SAME PART PLACED INTO PONTIAC/CHEVY VEHICLES THEN WHY ARE ONLY SOME OF THESE FAULTY PARTS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL???? THIS WAS THE SAME SITUATION WITH MY FAULTY FUEL PUMP, IN WHICH I PAID CASH FOR THE PART AND REPAIRS AND THEN 6 MONTHS LATER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM GM STATING MY VIN# WAS NOW INCLUDED. I PHONED THE DEALER AND GM DIRECTLY AND THEY OFFERED ME NO OPTIONS OTHER THAN PAY $611 FOR THE PART AND ESTIMATED ANOTHER $500 IN LABOR. I HAVE FOUND ON NUMEROUS GM FORUMS THAT THIS ISSUE WITH THE PPM IS VERY COMMON WITH 2007-2009 PONTIAC AND CHEVY VEHICLES WITH THOSE OWNERS GETTING THE SAME EXCUSE FROM GM AND NO RECALL COVERAGE. I AM HOPING THAT IN THE FUTURE SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA WILL LOOK INTO THIS CAMPAIGN AND EXPAND THE VEHICLES INVOLVED AS IT SEEMS TO BE A DEALER/PART ISSUE AND AFFECTS THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.