Posted this afternoon on Automotive News' website:
It involves just the 2.0L Turbo GXPs.
Quote:
Feds check Solstice, Sky brakes
Harry Stoffer
Automotive News | March 10, 2008 - 2:07 pm EST
WASHINGTON -- Federal safety officials are conducting a preliminary investigation into complaints that brakes on 2008 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky roadsters with 2.0-liter turbocharged engines don’t work as well as they should.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in a document posted on its Web site today, said it has received 40 complaints. The main complaint is that too much pressure must be applied to the brake pedal to stop the car, especially when the engine is cold.
The agency says that one reported crash may be related to the alleged problem. An estimated 20,000 of the vehicles are in service.
NHTSA notes that General Motors issued a technical service bulletin in December, advising dealers about recalibrating brake control modules. The cars use the stability control module pump to boost hydraulic pressure at the wheels during periods of low booster vacuum, such as engine warm-up, NHTSA says.
The NHTSA investigation is called a preliminary evaluation. The agency can drop the investigation if it finds there is no reason for further study, or it can upgrade its review. An investigation ultimately can lead to a safety recall.
The NHTSA version of the pedal effort investigation:
Quote:
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS RECEIVED 40 COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSIST IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2008 PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND SATURN SKY VEHICLES WITH 2.0L TURBO ENGINES.
THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE EXCESSIVE BRAKE PEDAL EFFORT IS REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE ON INITIAL APPLICATIONS FOLLOWING A COLD START, TYPICALLY IN A DRIVEWAY OR PARKING LOT.
ODI IS AWARE OF ONE CRASH THAT MAY HAVE RESULTED FROM THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
THE BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES USES THE STABILITY CONTROL MODULE PUMP TO BOOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE AT THE WHEELS DURING CONDITIONS OF LOW BOOSTER VACUUM, SUCH AS DURING THE ENGINE WARM UP PERIOD. GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (#07-05-25-007) IN DECEMBER 2007 RELEASING A REVISED CALIBRATION FOR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TO ADDRESS COMPLAINTS OF EXTRA EFFORT TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN OPERATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.