DOT Investigation Into Strut Rub

[MuhThugga]

Report Prompts Investigation Into Pontiac GTO
Department Of Transportation Opens Official Investigation
February 20, 2007

CLEVELAND -- A 5 On Your Side investigation was the first to uncover a potential safety defect in thousands of U.S. cars.

The nation's top auto safety agency is taking action.

Investigation


Investigator Ron Regan reported the Department of Transportation has opened an official defect investigation into the Pontiac GTO.

This action comes just one week after our report first aired.

The investigation found that the tires suddenly exploded on a Cleveland freeway. WEWS found the front struts on the GTO could be actually rubbing against the inside of the tires, causing catastrophic failure on model years 2004-2006.

A defect investigation has been opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

General Motors will be required to turn over complaints and warranty repairs.

The process will take about three months to complete. If warranted, a complete engineering analysis will be ordered.

So far, 69 complaints have been officially received.

Regan reported that number is expected to rise.

http://www.gtoforum.com/showthread.php?t=11915

[QSMgoat]

damn, should have read this before i bought 4 new tires! i had my car in because of this and they put in cam bolts for the front struts and an alignment,which corrected the issue, but left me with partially bald inside edge tires. i said f*** it and went out and replaced the tires anyway. truth be told, had i pushed harder with this investigation on my side, i could have goten free tires for "safety" reasons. keep that in mind if anyone else has this issue, OEM wheel/tire guys...pull your wheels and look for contact.

[mach5288]

I love how they say it's a "defect" like it's a design flaw or mechanical problem, WTF? There's nothing broken or defective... proper alignment and no problem. Dealers should definitely have to take care of the problem and replace tires that have been worn due to strut rub, but all these reports make it look like our cars are pieces of crap. Obviously it's a problem, but I also have no sympathy for anyone who has had a blowout due to this, it still takes time and miles for this to become a "blowout" issue and if you can't take a look at your tires to see how they're wearing periodically to make sure they are safe to drive on... well I don't want you on the same road with me anyway. Any car with a bad alignment can have catastrophic tire wear problems, ultimately we as drivers and especially car enthusiasts still need to pay attention to tire wear, brake pads, etc...

That being said, at least it looks like this will get GM to take some resposibility for alignments and tire replacement.

[BlackPearl]

I love how they say it's a "defect" like it's a design flaw or mechanical problem, WTF? There's nothing broken or defective... proper alignment and no problem. Dealers should definitely have to take care of the problem and replace tires that have been worn due to strut rub, but all these reports make it look like our cars are pieces of crap. Obviously it's a problem, but I also have no sympathy for anyone who has had a blowout due to this, it still takes time and miles for this to become a "blowout" issue and if you can't take a look at your tires to see how they're wearing periodically to make sure they are safe to drive on... well I don't want you on the same road with me anyway. Any car with a bad alignment can have catastrophic tire wear problems, ultimately we as drivers and especially car enthusiasts still need to pay attention to tire wear, brake pads, etc...

That being said, at least it looks like this will get GM to take some resposibility for alignments and tire replacement.

ALignments don't cure all. While it does work for some, many other GTo owners have had several alignments and the tires still rub. It's not a design flaw, it's a manufacturing decision flaw with the current wheel/ture combos we have.

[GTO1_OHIO]

Report Prompts Investigation Into Pontiac GTO
Department Of Transportation Opens Official Investigation
February 20, 2007

CLEVELAND -- A 5 On Your Side investigation was the first to uncover a potential safety defect in thousands of U.S. cars.

The nation's top auto safety agency is taking action.

Investigation


Investigator Ron Regan reported the Department of Transportation has opened an official defect investigation into the Pontiac GTO.

This action comes just one week after our report first aired.

The investigation found that the tires suddenly exploded on a Cleveland freeway. WEWS found the front struts on the GTO could be actually rubbing against the inside of the tires, causing catastrophic failure on model years 2004-2006.

A defect investigation has been opened by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

General Motors will be required to turn over complaints and warranty repairs.

The process will take about three months to complete. If warranted, a complete engineering analysis will be ordered.

So far, 69 complaints have been officially received.

Regan reported that number is expected to rise.

http://www.gtoforum.com/showthread.php?t=11915

Ummm I've been having to post all the information from this web site onto that one...cause they are way behind on this....lol. Seems some here is too...lol. JusticePete and I will be meeting with Ron Regan when my car is Pedderized on Saturday. Ron called me today and said he's going to film another segment on the investigation....stay tuned.