2009 Hummer H3 Electrical System Problems

Category: Recall Reimbursement Problem NHTSA Complaint Description I am filing a complaint regarding General Motors’ refusal to reimburse an out-of-pocket repair related to Safety Recall N150042 on my 2009 Hummer H3 (VIN: [XXX] ). On December 31, 2025, I paid $946.06 out-of-pocket to correct the defect covered by Recall N150042 (blower motor connector module). The repair was performed at Coleman Buick GMC Cadillac in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. A complete reimbursement package was submitted to GM. GM has denied reimbursement, claiming that this recall was previously repaired in 2016. However: • No documentation has been provided to support that claim.
• No repair order number has been provided.
• No servicing dealer or repair location has been identified.
• No proof of recall closure documentation has been produced.
• No warranty claim record has been provided. Despite repeated requests, GM has refused to provide any evidence that Recall N150042 was completed in 2016. The defect was present in 2025 and was corrected by a GM-authorized dealership. If the recall had truly been completed in 2016, documentation should exist and be readily producible. GM is refusing reimbursement of $946.06 without providing supporting documentation of prior recall completion. This appears to involve either improper recall recordkeeping, improper VIN recall closure, or failure to comply with federal recall reimbursement requirements under 49 U.S.C. § 30120. I respectfully request NHTSA review of GM’s recall documentation and reimbursement practices related to Recall N150042. After submission, download or screenshot your confirmation number for your escalation packet. If you would like, I can now prepare: * A shortened version (if the online form has character limits) * A legally intensified version * Or a version framed specifically to trigger recordkeeping review rather than just reimbursement review INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2009 Hummer H3. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to immediately start, and the security warning light illuminated. After several attempts, the vehicle was started. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but had become more frequent. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 97,000.

RECENTLY MY 2009 HUMMER H3, HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, WARNING LIGHTS WILL FLASH, WILL BEEP, (TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, SERVICE 4WD, CHANGE OIL, SERVICE TPM), ALL THE WHILE ALL THINGS ELECTRICAL STOPS WORKING SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, BLOWER FAN, HEATED SEAT, TURN SIGNALS, AND ALL THIS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NORMAL SPEED. IT STARTED DOING THIS AS THE WEATHER GOT COLDER BUT THIS H3 IS WELL MAINTAINED AND IS GARAGE KEPT AND I ONLY USE IT TO DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK. IT IS NOW A SAFETY HAZARD AND WITH THESE ISSUES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRADE IT IN. I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START IN ORDER TO FIX IT. AFTER FINALLY DRIVING FOR 30 MIN OR SO SOMETIMES IT WILL FINALLY QUIT MESSING UP AND ACT NORMAL.

PERIODICALLY 2-3 TIMES A YEAR FOR PAST 6 YEARS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH CAR WILL DIE, WHEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, CAR WILL NOT RESTART, MAY RESTART AFTER 10 MINUTES OR AFTER TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP,TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND SEVERAL TIMES TO HIGH END INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOPS, NO ERROR CODE EVER FOUND. READ ON HUMMER FORUMS ISSUE WITH IGNITION SWITCH, REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH AND FAULT HAS NOT RECURRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND LOST ALL POWER FOR TEN MINUTES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT VISITED HILEY BUICK GMC (3535 W LOOP 820 S, FORT WORTH, TX 76116, (817) 349-6235), BUT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR HOW TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

THE TRUCK WILL LOCK THE IGNITION OUT FOR 10 MINUTES. YOU ARE UNABLE TO START THE TRUCK. NOW HAVING THAT HAPPEN IN AN UNDESIRABLE PARKING AREA OR OUT IN THE WINTER OLD, IS NOT SAFE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT RANDOM TIMES FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS OR SO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS FILLED WITH WATER AND THE ELECTRICAL SENSORS WERE ALL AFFECTED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRY, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (FLOW BUICK GMC - GREENSBORO1205 BRIDFORD PKWY, GREENSBORO, NC 27407) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS .THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THE VEHICLES INTERNAL DRAINING HOSE WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I OWN A 2009 HUMMER H3T THAT HAD A RECALL FOR A BLOWER RESISTOR AND HARNESS ASSEMBLY DEFECT THAT COULD CATCH FIRE. I HAVE HAD THE SAME HARNESS AND RESISTOR REPLACED TWICE NOW FOR THE SAME REASON OF MELTING. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. THEY ARE TELLING ME SINCE I HAVE HAD THE RECALL COMPLETED WHICH REALLY WASN'T THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME. BACK GROUND HISTORY IS THE ITEMS FIRST FAILED IN 2013 AND I PAID TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. THE RECALL CAME OUT AND THEY COUNTED THE PREVIOUS REPAIR AS THE FIX. EVEN THOUGH THE MANUFACTURING DATE OF THE HARNESS THAT JUST FAILED AGAIN WAS 2012. THEY WILL NOT TELL ME IF THE RECALL PRODUCED A REDESIGNED PART OR NOT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT TO MAKE SURE I HAVE THE CORRECT PARTS INSTALLED OR DEFECTIVE ONES.

NEEDED RECALL FOR HUMMER H3. "REDUCED POWER/SERVICE STAB SYSTEM/TRACTION" NOTIFICATION THAT APPEARS WITHOUT WARNING, AND IMMEDIATELY DROPS THE ENGINE TO ALMOST NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING IN LOCAL TRAFFIC, THEN ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED. GM HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE, EVEN AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THIS VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION WITHOUT SUCCESS, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO ADDRESS IT WITH A RECALL. THE MOST DANGEROUS OF THE NUMEROUS TIMES THIS HAPPENED WAS ON 4/27/17. I HAD JUST LEFT MOSES GM OF CHARLESTON, WV AFTER THEY HAD REPAIRED THE VEHICLE FOR THIS ISSUE. I DROVE APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES ON INTERSTATE 64 BEFORE LOSING POWER, AND ALMOST BEING STRUCK BY A VEHICLE ON THE SOUTH CHARLESTON BRIDGE. THE DEALERSHIP TOWED ME BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ONCE AGAIN UNSUCCESSFULLY REPAIRED. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH GM VEHICLES AROUND THE SAME TIME PERIOD, AND NOT JUST THE HUMMER LINE. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

AFTER BRINGING MY HUMMER H3 TO THE DEALER FOR A/C HEATER WIRE HARNESS AND RESISTOR, THE HVAC TEMP DIAL IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ON FULL COLD IT WORKS FINE. MOVE IT 1 CLICK TOWARD WARM IT GOES FULL WARM.. IT WAS WORKING FINE BEFORE I BROUGHT TO THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER

THE SECURITY SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT START THE ENGINE! I MUST WAIT 10 MINUTES TO START THE VEHICLE!

THERE ARE TWO ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS ALSO VERY PREVALENT IN THE FORUMS: 1. PASSLOCK SENSOR FAILURE - THIS PREVENTS THE CAR FROM STARTING FOR 10 MINUTES. MANY HAVE DESCRIBED SAFETY DUE TO STRANDING IN UNSAFE LOCATIONS AND IN EXTREME WEATHER SITUATIONS. 2. RADIATOR CRACKING - THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

EVERY SO OFTEN THE PASSLOCK SECURITY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND MY HUMMER WON'T START. I HAVE TO WAIT 10 MINUTES BEFORE I CAN START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. IT FAILS WITHOUT WARNING. ITS BEEN HAPPENING MORE AND MORE OFTEN. THERE WAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I NOTICED IT STARTING TO ACT UP. I SLICED MY FINGERS OPEN ON A JOB AND HAD TO DRIVE MYSELF TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BUT MY HUMMER WOULDN'T START BECAUSE OF THE IGNITION SECURITY FAILURE. I LOST A LOT OF BLOOD IN MY HAND SITTING WAITING THE 10 MINUTES. THE DOCTOR SAID I MIGHT LOSE THE TIPS OF MY FINGERS BECAUSE IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET THERE. I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE HAD WORSE SITUATIONS, BUT I SEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. IT A DANGEROUS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST IF IT HASN'T ALREADY.

VEHICLE IS PARKED AND THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE HAS BE USED, JUST AFTER TURNING IT OFF OR WHEN ITS BEEN SITTING OVERNIGHT. WHEN I TURN THE IGNITION/KEY THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START EACH TIME IT MAKES NO INDICATING/COMMON NOISE WHEN TRYING TO START IT. THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CHECK OUT AND ARE FINE. OTHER GM PRODUCTS HAVE THIS RECALL HOWEVER, THIS ONE DOES NOT.(?)

MY 2009 HUMMER H3 ON OCCASION WILL NOT START. IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME, ANY WHERE, UNDER ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS, ETC. ARE HOWEVER STILL WORKING. I THEN HAVE TO WAIT APPROX. 10 TO 15 MINUTES, AND THE VEHICLE STARTS UP LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED.. FROM DOING SOME ON-LINE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT MANY, MANY, HUMMER H3 OWNERS FROM YEARS 2002 TO 2009 HAVE THIS SAME DISTURBING ISSUE. I HAD THIS PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE WHEN I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER NOW IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT.. THIS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK. SOME ATTRIBUTE THIS TO A FAULTY SECURITY PASS LOCK SYSTEM. I FEEL THIS IS WIDESPREAD DANGEROUS ISSUE AND THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL ON ALL HUMMER H3'S THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

THE HUMMER WOULD NOT START, THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN, WITH BATTERY IN GREAT CONDITION, SIGNS OF FAULTY IGNITION AND PASSIVE LOCK SYSTEM.

I REC'D A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE 8/15 FOR 2009 H3 RECALL# 15042 OR 15V421 (2 DIFFERENT # IN LETTER) FROM HUMMER . THE CONNECTOR MODULE THAT CONTROLS BLOWER MOTOR SPEED MAY OVERHEAT." IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THERE IS THE RISK THAT THE HEAT GENERATED COULD MELT THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE CONNECTOR MODULE, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF A FIRE" I CALLED DEALER-AND TOLD GM HAS NO "FIX" FOR THIS ISSUES (I CALL EVERY FEW WEEKS) I CALLED GM DIRECT THAT SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS YET TO FIX IT. I WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE AROUND WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN VEHICLE AND NOT USE THE FAN AND LEAVE THE CAR IF I SMELL SMOKE . NOTHING HAS HAPPENED YET AND I AM NOT USING FAN BUT I WOULD LIKE THIS CONDITION FIXED BEFORE A FIRE OCCURS. IT IS VERY UNSETTLING TO DRIVE THIS WAY. HUMMER/GM

WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC CASE ON THE SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT BREAKS AWAY AND AUTOMATICALLY STARTS THE ELECTRIC SEAT TO MOVE DOWN AND BACK, CAUSING RISK OF ACCIDENT

BLOWER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. RECEIVED LETTER OF RECALL FROM HUMMER. CAR DEALER INSPECTED AND STATED IT IS UNDER RECALL HOWEVER PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CALLED HUMMER CUSTOMER CARE. INFORMED IAM NOT COVERED, PAY OUT OF POCKET. RECALL NUMBER IS: 15V421 MY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER REVEALED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE 2006. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE YET ???

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HUMMER H3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE AIR CONDITIONER SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTOR MODULE FOR THE HEAT, AIR, DEFROSTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V421000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,900.