Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 21 of 270 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 82 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
31 crash reports10 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
270 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS WAS HEARD AND FELT TO MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS - BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT - BRAKES AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON. BRAKES WERE FINE AFTERWARDS BUT THE EXPERIENCE REPEATED A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT COULD BE CHECKED OUT. COMPUTER READING INDICATED DTC 38 (LEFT FRONT EMB WILL NOT HOLD MOTOR). AFTER 5 DAYS WHEN ABLE TO GET INTO DEALERSHIP THE…
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ABS WAS HEARD AND FELT TO MAKE CLICKING SOUNDS - BRAKE PEDAL WENT SOFT - BRAKES AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON. BRAKES WERE FINE AFTERWARDS BUT THE EXPERIENCE REPEATED A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT COULD BE CHECKED OUT. COMPUTER READING INDICATED DTC 38 (LEFT FRONT EMB WILL NOT HOLD MOTOR). AFTER 5 DAYS WHEN ABLE TO GET INTO DEALERSHIP THE DASH LIGHTS FINALLY WENT OUT AND DEALER UNABLE TO FIND A SYSTEM FAILURE. ONE YEAR LATER (JUNE 7-2000) SAME EXPERIENCE WITH CAR. WILL SEE IF DASH LIGHTS RESET IN A FEW DAYS. BRAKES WORK FINE EXCEPT FOR THAT MOMENT SOON AFTER STARTUP AND LEAVING HOUSE AREA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723806
Mileage unknown · Jun 6, 2000
Visibility
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARK IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD. THEY WERE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IN MARCH OF 1997 AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2000. BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED IT WAS SNOWING. I SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT GM BUT THEY TOLD ME THE WORK DONE IS ONLY QUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED…
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MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS PARK IN THE CENTER OF MY WINDSHIELD. THEY WERE FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IN MARCH OF 1997 AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2000. BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED IT WAS SNOWING. I SPOKE WITH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT GM BUT THEY TOLD ME THE WORK DONE IS ONLY QUARANTEED FOR 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES. THE PRICE I WAS QUOTED TO HAVE THIS FIXED IS EXPENSIVE. 350 DOLLARS. I'M AFRAID THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN EVERY COUPLE YEARS OR SO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #723648
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Electrical System
WHEN DRIVING 40-50 MPH VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER LINKED THE PROBLEM TO ELECTRICAL WIRES WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH HAVE MELTED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862924
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722893
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE GASKETS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861403
Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE CLINDER HEAD GASKET THEY HAVE NO RECALL,ONLY A LETTER#C98054 WHICH SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE AT NO CHARGE FOR 7YRS OR 100,000MILES. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE MINE BECAUSE I HAVE A REBUILT SALVAGE TITLE, THE CAR IS LIKE NEW WITH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON OUR ENVIRONMEN…
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ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS BECAUSE OF A FAILURE IN THE CLINDER HEAD GASKET THEY HAVE NO RECALL,ONLY A LETTER#C98054 WHICH SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE AT NO CHARGE FOR 7YRS OR 100,000MILES. THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE MINE BECAUSE I HAVE A REBUILT SALVAGE TITLE, THE CAR IS LIKE NEW WITH THE ORIGINAL ENGINE. ANTIFREEZE LEAKING ON OUR ENVIRONMENT IS NOT GOOD,WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL? *AK
NHTSA ODI #721481
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTOR FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. CAMPAIGN # 99-0-88. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721237
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WAS LOSING COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ,AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. VEHICLE NOT COVERED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859855
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN MOTOR HEATS UP IT CAUSES PLASTIC TO SHRINK AND GAS SHOOTS OUT OVER TOP OF MOTOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #859591
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN ENGINE HEATS UP IT CAUSES PLASTIC TO SHRINK, AND GAS SHOOTS OUT OVER THE TOP OF MOTOR. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE FRONT AND/OR REAR HAZARD WARNING LAMPS (FOUR-WAY FLASHERS) DO NOT FLASH WHEN THE HAZARD SWITCH IS ACTIVATED. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THESE LAMPS WERE NOT FLASHING, OTHER VEHICLES WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STOPPED INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS OR VEHICLE OWNERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER FUNCTION OF THE HAZARD WARNING LAMPS. IF NECESSARY, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD LAMP SWITCH.
THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH WELDS MISSING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES CAUSING EXCESSIVE LOADS ON THE EXISTING WELDS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONTBUSHING SLEEVE SUBASSEMBLY FROM THE CONTROL ARM INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH LEFT-HAND AND RIGHT-HAND FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES AND REPLACE ALL CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLIES FOUND WITH OMITTED WELDS.
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
PE02001 · Fire In Steering Column Area
Opened Jan 3, 2002 · Closed Mar 15, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
No summary supplied.
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