NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
246 reports18,000 miles · Nov 19, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
CONSUMER REPORTED TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, TOM SCHAEFER, THAT WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT HEARD A LOUD THUMP, AND THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MR. SCHAEFER SAID THAT THE CONSUMER USED THE WORD THUMP NOT B…
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CONSUMER REPORTED TO THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR, TOM SCHAEFER, THAT WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE AFTER SITTING ALL NIGHT HEARD A LOUD THUMP, AND THEN ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH WENT OUT. SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. MR. SCHAEFER SAID THAT THE CONSUMER USED THE WORD THUMP NOT BANG TO DESCRIBE THE INITIAL INCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048211
57,000 miles · Nov 18, 2003
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, SHOULDER HARNESS WOULD NOT EXTEND. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HARNESS WOULD NOT EXTEND EITHER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON SEAT BELT, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10042238
24,959 miles · Nov 17, 2003
Steering
POWER STEERING GEAR BROKE WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BIND WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE OF THE PART BREAKING WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK THERE WAS NOT A LOSS OF FLUID. THE FAILURE WAS AN INTERNAL PART OF THE STEERING GEAR. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10040427
60,000 miles · Nov 14, 2003
Electrical SystemFire
THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION UNDER HOOD. THIS OCCURRED WHEN KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE INSPECTOR WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION BECAUSE THE UNDER HOOD COMPONENTS WERE MELTED TOGETHER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10047989
74,991 miles · Oct 31, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
INITIATION OF PROBLEM STARTED 19 SEPT 2003 WHILE ON A ROUNDTRIP, TX TO CA. AFTER APPROXIMATELY $3,200 IN REPAIRS, CA & TX, THE CULPRIT IS IDENTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY FIXED (30 OCT 2003). THE CULPRIT IS A WARPED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS (FINALLY HYDRO-LOCKING THE ENGIN…
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INITIATION OF PROBLEM STARTED 19 SEPT 2003 WHILE ON A ROUNDTRIP, TX TO CA. AFTER APPROXIMATELY $3,200 IN REPAIRS, CA & TX, THE CULPRIT IS IDENTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY FIXED (30 OCT 2003). THE CULPRIT IS A WARPED UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CYLINDERS (FINALLY HYDRO-LOCKING THE ENGINE). THIS HARD-PLASTIC, DOMED ORIGINAL GM PART HAS ABOUT A 1-MM WARP ON THE END NEAREST CYLINDERS #1 & #2. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S FLAW, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS MORE THAN 75,000 MILES. THE TX DEALER HAS SEEN OTHER PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. A GM/BUICK REPRESENTATIVE DOES NOT WANT TO CONSIDER SHARING SOME OF THE REPAIR COSTS. I HAVE A THOROUGH FILE ON THIS PROBLEM. I NOTE OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENGINE. -- JACK SANDERS, DALLAS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10045196
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING, THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH DEALER. *AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BOTH THE ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEMS EARLY ON. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10037707
81,571 miles · Sep 3, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
LEAKY INTAKE GASKET ON 3.8K ENGINE, LEAKED COOLANT AND FOULDED PLUGS, ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AT 81,000 MILES.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10037153
Mileage unknown · Aug 19, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
DOORS WILL NO LONGER OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10033105
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2003
Latches/locks/linkages
DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALER STATES DOOR'S LATCH MECHANISM BROKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10034125
82,000 miles · Aug 5, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE LIGGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. SUSEQUENT FINDINGS WERE THAT THE COMPOSITE INTAKE PLENUM HAD SEVERAL PIN HOLE LEAKS WHICH RESULTED IN DUMPING OF COOLANT INTO ENGINE AND SEIZURE VERY SHORTLY AFTER LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE SEEMS TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS NOW WITH POW…
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WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, ENGINE LIGGHT CAME ON AND BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. SUSEQUENT FINDINGS WERE THAT THE COMPOSITE INTAKE PLENUM HAD SEVERAL PIN HOLE LEAKS WHICH RESULTED IN DUMPING OF COOLANT INTO ENGINE AND SEIZURE VERY SHORTLY AFTER LIGHT CAME ON. HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. NEW ENGINE SEEMS TO HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS NOW WITH POWER AND SMOOTH OPERATION AND EXCESSIVE RATTLING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10030849
NHTSA investigations
5RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
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.
PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA00002 · Front Shoulder Belt Malfunction
Opened Jan 6, 2000 · Closed May 2, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE99056 · Front Shoulder Belt Malfunction
Opened Sep 2, 1999 · Closed Jan 6, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
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