NHTSA Complaint #10908015 — 2012 CHEVROLET VOLT

GM SENT ME THE FOLLOWING LETTER DATED SEPT. 2016: "THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT SOME 2012 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET VOLT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN BREAK AT THE STALK JUST BELOW THE HOUSING DUE TO THE DRIVER ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THEIR FOOT RESTING ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE PEDAL BREAKS, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE ACCELERATOR ONCE THE STALK HAS BROKEN OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD RETURN TO IDLE REGARDLESS OF TRANSMISSION GEAR POSITION. DO NOT TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO YOUR CHEVROLET DEALER AS A RESULT OF THIS LETTER UNLESS YOU BELIEVE THAT YOUR VEHICLE HAS THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE...IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS ON YOUR 2012 VOLT WITHIN 10 YEARS OF THE DATE YOUR VEHICLE ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE OR 120K MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, THE CONDITION WILL BE REPAIRED FOR YOU AT NO CHARGE." IN OTHER WORDS, GM WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE AND REPAIR THE PEDAL IN ADVANCE. IF IT BREAKS, THEY'LL FIX IT, BUT THE CAR WILL BE INOPERABLE SO IT WILL HAVE TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER. THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, IT COULD HAPPEN IN A REMOTE LOCATION. I SPOKE WITH A VOLT REPRESENTATIVE TODAY WHO CONFIRMED THAT GM WILL NOT RECALL THE CAR AND WILL ONLY MAKE THE REPAIR IF NEEDED, AND ONLY WITHIN 10 YEARS OR 120K MILES. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO ISSUE A MANDATORY RECALL AND MAKE THE REPAIR QUICKLY AND FREE OF CHARGE. THE LETTER IS SIGNED BY TERRY INCH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GM GLOBAL CONNECTED CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE. THE LETTER PROVIDED A CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER OF 1-800-222-1020.