GM SUVs probed by NHTSA after reports of stalling

Federal regulators have opened a safety investigation of as many as 865,000 General Motors SUVs from 2005-07 model years after complaints that inaccurate fuel-gauge readings led to stalling and one accident.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's preliminary evaluation is looking at 2005-07 Buick Rainiers, 2005-07 Chevrolet TrailBlazer 360s, 2005-06 Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT 370s, 2005-07 GMC Envoy 360s, 2005-06 GMC Envoy XL 370s and 2005-07 Saab 9-7Xs.

NHTSA said in a posting Friday that it has received 668 complaints of inaccurate fuel-gauge readings, 58 of which involved stalling vehicles.

GM is "cooperating with NHTSA," company spokesman Alan Adler said.

In 43 of the complaints, stalling resulted from a reading of more fuel availability than what was in the fuel tank, the regulator said.

According to one complaint, the vehicle stalled while exiting a highway, became disabled and was struck from behind, according to NHTSA.

Most of the complaints have been filed in the past year, NHTSA said.

By Neil Roland- Automotive News