NHTSA Looking At GM Headlights

WASHINGTON--The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is looking into reports that General Motors Corp. full-size pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles may have wiring problems that can cause the headlights to go out. The vehicles involved are Chevrolet and GMC pickup trucks, and Suburban, Yukon and Tahoe SUVs from the 1995-96 model years.

NHTSA said there have been 69,461 reports of headlight failures, with all but 38 of them from coming from dealer warranty claims. NHTSA said there have been three reports of crashes, but no injuries stemming from the crashes. The agency said it is possible that repeated adjustments of the tilt steering wheel can damage the headlight wiring.

NHTSA has received 11 complaints that the parking brake on manual transmission-equipped 1994-95 Jeep Wranglers can fail and cause the vehicle to roll away. There have been seven reports of wrecks, but no injuries.

Another probe is of model year 2000 Dodge Dakota compact pickup trucks because of possibly faulty brake lights and cruise control systems. NHTSA received three reports of problems, and no reports of injuries or crashes.