Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
300–25K
4025–50K
5750–75K
2575–100K
34100–150K
16150K+
202 reports with mileage · 126 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility. Review the 99 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports22 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
328 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Seat Belts
I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT. THE BELT KEEPS GETTING CAUGHT IN THE FLOOR RETRACTOR. WHEN I TRY TO PULL THE BELT UP TO USE, IT GETS STUCK AND HAS TO BE TUGGED ON 5-6 TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ORANGE BUICK FIRST LOOKED AT IT ON 4/25/02 AND CLAIMED, "BELT OUT OF PLACE CAUSING LOCK TO ENGAGE R&R …
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I HAVE AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH MY DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT. THE BELT KEEPS GETTING CAUGHT IN THE FLOOR RETRACTOR. WHEN I TRY TO PULL THE BELT UP TO USE, IT GETS STUCK AND HAS TO BE TUGGED ON 5-6 TIMES TO GET IT TO RELEASE. ORANGE BUICK FIRST LOOKED AT IT ON 4/25/02 AND CLAIMED, "BELT OUT OF PLACE CAUSING LOCK TO ENGAGE R&R AND REPOSITION LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR." THAT DID NOT FIX IT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK AGAIN ON 7/1/02. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW BELT AND REPLACE IT. SUPPOSEDLY, BUICK REALIZED THAT THEY HAD A PROBLEM AND HAD REDESIGNED THEIR BELTS. THE REPLACEMENT BELT WAS INSTALLED ON 7/16/02, AND WORKED OKAY FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS, AND HAS STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM ALL OVER AGAIN. BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, BUT I KEEP GETTING CAUGHT WITH IT. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES, THE BELT WILL NOT RELEASE AFTER 5 OR 6 TUGS AND THEN I WILL BE FORCED TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE SEATBELT ENGAGED, WHICH IS BOTH ILLEGAL AND VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765535
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2002
Visibility
CONSUMER HAS A CONCERN ABOUT THE DEFROSTER QUITTING WHILE IN MOTION. IT JUST STOPS WORKING AND USUALLY STARTS AFTER AN HOUR OF VEHICLE USE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE.*JG
NHTSA ODI #786409
Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND VEHICLE WILL GO DOWN A HILL OR A SMALL INCLINE VEHICLE WILL START TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT CONSUMER INCREASING THE SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8015441
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2002
Air BagsElectrical System
AIRBAG LIGHT APPEARS ON DASHBOAD AND ALARM SYSTEM CAME ON. WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY CONSUMER HIT HORN AND CENTER PIECE POPPED UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8014391
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2002
SeatsCrashInjury
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE REAR DECK ABOVE THE SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THAT SEATS ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND HEADRESTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE REAR SEATS TO ENSURE PASSENGER SAFETY WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SAFETY BELT, BUT REC…
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CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE REAR. THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE REAR SEAT HIT THEIR HEAD ON THE REAR DECK ABOVE THE SEAT. CONSUMER FEELS THAT SEATS ARE NOT HIGH ENOUGH AND HEADRESTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE REAR SEATS TO ENSURE PASSENGER SAFETY WHEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. PASSENGER WAS WEARING A SAFETY BELT, BUT RECEIVED HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE REAR WAS TRAVELLING LESS THAN 20MPH. ESTIMATED DAMAGE WAS $2500.00. *SCC
NHTSA ODI #8014069
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIR BAG BROKE PLASTIC BUT DID NOT INFLATE; NECK INJURY RESULTED FROM WHIPLASH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #762281
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2002
Electrical System
HORN BUTTON IS NOT SENSITIVE ENOUGH, AND HORN BUTTON IS TOO SMALL. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK. CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE.*JB
NHTSA ODI #8009706
5,000 miles · Apr 11, 2002
SuspensionVehicle Speed ControlVisibility
THE FRONT END SUSPENSION CAUSED THE STEERING COLUMN TO JERK, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE LEFT WINDOW FAILED. *AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #8007449
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES HORN VERY DIFFCULT TO USE. THE CONSUMER HAS TO USE EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO MAKE IT WORK. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM *YH
NHTSA ODI #8006502
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2002
Exterior Lighting
UNABLE TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS USING LIGHT SWITCH UNTIL IGNITION SWITCH IS SWITCHED OFF. HAD CONTACTED DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8002113
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
EA02030 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Oct 22, 2002 · Closed Mar 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
Fuel System, Gasoline
EA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GMEA02-030 IS CLOSED WITH GM?S ACTIONS IN 03V-473 AND 04V-090 RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 529,000 MY 1998-99 C- AND H-BODY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS.THESE VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS THAT ARE UNABLE TO CONTAIN PRESSURES THAT OCCUR IN SOME BACKFIRE EVENTS AND DEFECTIVE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS WITH LEAKING DIAPHRAGMS THAT CAN PROVIDE A SOURCE OF FUEL TO PRODUCE A COMBUSTIBLE AIR-FUEL MIXTURE IN THE MANIFOLD.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY ODI THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS IN THE VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN GM?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE INCIDENCE OF MANIFOLD RUPTURES AND RELATED FIRES IN OTHER MY 1995-2002 GM PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH THE SUBJECT INTAKE MANIFOLD.FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, SEE THE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT.
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