NHTSA Denies Investigation Regarding Alleged Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky Blower Motor Fires
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has denied a petition for a formal investigation into the possibility of fires stemming from an allegedly defective HVAC blower motor in certain units of the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky.
The petition, which was received by the NHTSA in December of the 2019 calendar year, requests an investigation into a possible defect in certain units of the 2006 through 2010 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. The petition alleges that overheating HVAC blower motor connectors in affected units could lead to a passenger compartment fire.
Among the 90,938 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky units produced during the 2006 through 2010 model years, the NHTSA identified 13 units with reported incidents that could potentially pertain to a blower motor overheating, smoking, or melting. Among these 13 potential incidents, two reported smoke and thermal damage that may have been attributed to the HVAC blower motor. However, this was not confirmed in either of the two incidents.
One of the incidents involved a 2008 Saturn Sky with substantial frontal damage resulting from a collision, although the root cause of the smoke of thermal damage was not identified. The other incident involved a 2007 Pontiac Solstice, however the manufacturer was not informed and the vehicle was not brought in for a dealer evaluation.
The majority of the 13 possible incidents included an overheated or discolored connector with attendant loss of HVAC blower fan function. According to the NHTSA, GM reported a total of 354 warranty claims with the subject components for the Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice, although none included a reported fire, and only one reported smoke.
The NHTSA determined that in the event an HVAC blower motor overheats, it’s more likely to fail than catch fire or melt. Additionally, the models involved show no defect trend and a low rate of reported thermal events in the last 10 to 14 years. As such, the NHTSA denied the petition for a formal defect investigation.
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Thinking about picking up a Saturn for a cruiser, toy.
I had a 2008 Solstice GXP. Fun car. Bought it for $20k drove it for about 6 years (dry weather only and with the top down) then solid it for like $18k.
I sometimes miss the topless driving, but I’ve moved on to EVs.
What should be a recall is the non functional parking brakes these cars suffer from, especially since they commonly also have manual transmissions.
The Parking Brake is an easy fix, you just have to remove the rear calipers and turn the piston out a 1/4 to 1/2 a turn. then you will have your parking brake back. It is just from the brake pads wearing and there is no automatic compensation for that!
My daughter has 2007 AT. Great car!
Bring back PONTIAC,and that artful styling of the 60’s
I keep hoping they would bring back Solstice/Sky as an EV.
What is an AT???
Automatic transmission
Oh, got it, that was the first year of the Automatic!!!
At lease the 2007 has an unlock the doors button!!!
I bought one of the first ones in November 2005, you need the key fob to unlock the doors while inside the car!!! I guess they didn’t think about that at the time!
auto transmission
I bought a 2008 Solstice as a work vehicle at the beginning of the year. I love it. Fits my tools and clothes in the trunk although just barely. Best $4200 I have ever spent.
I bought a 2006 Solstice Brand New as soon as it came out. Hid it from my wife until Christmas Eve 2005.
Then I parked it on our front lawn and put a giant red bow on it. When we woke up Christmas Moring it just started to snow, I said Merry Christmas…Look out the front window and see what Santa Brought You!!!!
she looked outside and was blown away!!!
Best $27,000. Dollars I ever spent!!!
I have an 09 Solstice GXP manual. Great little car, no issues.
Wish I would have waited a year for the GXP….
Have a 2009 Saturn Sky..awesome car and fun to drive.
I have a 2006 solstice . When i bought it used with 100k miles. The blower motor had one speed. When i pulled the plug it had melted and burnt wires. I ordered a replacement witch came with larger gauge wires. These cars share these parts with the H3 hummer . This is a well know issue with the Kappa platform that the Pontiac, Saturn, Opal and Dawoo roasters are built on.
I bought A 2006 solstice 5 on the floor . Never seen snow or salt.45000 ml .
Goes to bed Nov -May .
Now it’s 2022 and I have not seen another solstice in 2 yrs. 1 sky .
I bought A 2006 solstice 5 on the floor . Never seen snow or salt.45000 ml .
Goes to bed Nov -May .
Now it’s 2022 and I have not seen another solstice in 2 yrs. 1 sky .
I Use Mine…I mean My wife’s like a Wheel Barrel. But not in the winter, It only has 18,000 Miles on it since December 2005
Still has the original Battery, I just changed the original tires, they were so HARD!!!! Car drove terrible.
Now with new tires it’s like it’s brand new again!!! Just in time to put it away for winter!
Wow where do you live? Here in suburban Chicago I see occasionally, plus there is a sosltice and a sky within a mile of where I live. Gxps like mine and Redlines are rare though.
I don’t know about those guys, but we see them here all the time on long Island/Queens NY
Solstices much more the Sky’s! and equal GXP’s To Regulars
There is a fairly large group of guys that frequent the local car shows with their all-customized Solstices.
Some of them have a lot of $$$$$ Into them to make them go fast. and there is a couple of Mallet Ones around here too!!!