Safety alert issued for GM mini vans

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07:51 PM EDT on Thursday, July 19, 2007

There's no recall just yet, but a word of warning tonight about doors on certain vehicles popping open while you drive.

It’s a scary thought for parents who think their children are safe in the backseat.

If your family is the owner of certain GM mini vans, there is a safety issue with the sliding doors that you need to be aware of.

According to information provided to us by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 2 dozen GM owners have filed complaints because they say their mini van power sliding doors open when they don't want them to.

The most extreme complaint coming from a mother who said the door opened repeatedly on the highway with her child on board.

Complaints filed with NHTSA include 2005-2006 mini vans including the Chevy Uplander, the Buick Terraza, the Pontiac Montana, and  the Saturn Relay.

Service Director Jim Sukow at Bachman Chevy told me today no mini van doors he knows of have been in for repairs locally.  But GM has issued a preliminary alert and the fix is an easy one. In fact vehicle owners can begin by checking for obstructions in the door rail themselves. Sukow says that if the door’s sensors are interrupted by debris, the door can open up without the driver doing anything.

Service centers will also check these contacts and clean them if necessary. So far, though, there's no recall and GM says the minivans are safe.
WHAS11 News wants to know if you have experienced similar trouble with power sliding doors on your mini van. You can also report problems to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Web story produced by Jessica Nelson






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