The problem
General motors is recalling 276,729 my 2009 Buick enclave, Chevrolet cobalt, hhr, malibu, traverse, GMC acadia, Pontiac g5, g6 and Saturn aura and outlook passenger vehicles. These vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicles safety standard 102, "transmission shift position sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect", and FMVSS 114, "theft protection and rollaway prevention". On some of these vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjustment clip May not be fully engaged. If the clip is not fully engaged, the shift lever and the actual position of the transmission gear May not match. With this condition, the drive could move the shifter to "park" and remove the ignition key, but the transmission gear May not be in "park".
The risk
The driver May not be able to restart the vehicle and the vehicle could roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible crash without prior warning.
The fix
Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before March 24, 2009. Owners May contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, Pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 and Saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or at www.gmownercenter.com.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 09V-073 (09V073000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 09041 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Component | Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Column shift |
| Report date | March 6, 2009 |
| Owners notified | March 15, 2009 |
| Vehicles affected | 276,729 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the transmission & drivetrain
- 2009 Buick Enclave transmission problems 33
- 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt transmission problems 32
- 2009 Chevrolet HHR transmission problems 16
- 2009 Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems 121
- 2009 Chevrolet Traverse transmission problems 58
- 2009 GMC Acadia transmission problems 72
- 2009 Pontiac G5 transmission problems 6
- 2009 Pontiac G6 transmission problems 46
- 2009 Saturn Aura transmission problems 65
- 2009 Saturn Outlook transmission problems 19
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 09V-073 repair free?
Yes. Buick dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect and ensure that the shift cable adjustment clip is fully engaged. In the event that the clip does not engage, the shift cable will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before March 24, 2009.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 276,729 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.