NHTSA Complaint #11076207 — 2009 PONTIAC G6

DEAR NHTSA; I OWN A 2009 PONTIAC G6 THAT WITHIN THE LAST WEEK INCURRED A POWER STEERING FAILURE. RECALL RESEARCH SHOWS THAT ON MARCH 2014 THE NHTSA REQUIRED GM TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IT ONLY COVERED THE G6 MODELS UP TO THE YEAR 2009, WHICH MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE "PROBLEM" WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE STEERING PROBLEM FOR EARLIER MODELS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SINCE THE 2009 MODEL YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL, THE COST TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM FALLS TO THE CONSUMER AND IS ESTIMATED TO BE IN THE $1,800 TO $2,000 RANGE. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND MIRRORS THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC'S AS EARLIER MODELS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE CONTACTED GM REGARDING THIS MATTER AND HAVE BEEN ASSURED THAT A LOCAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE CONTACTING ME WITHIN 48 HOURS. WHILE I APPRECIATE GM'S WILLINGNESS TO "CONSIDER" THE MATTER, I URGE THE NHTSA TO RE-VISIT THE MODEL YEARS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH THE COST OF REPAIRING WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT. FURTHER AND MORE IMPORTANTLY IS SAFETY FOR THE PASSENGERS AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.