I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE ROAD & THE WHOLE FRONT END OF TH…
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I WAS DRIVING MY CAR MAKING AN EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY & AS I LOOKED OVER MY SHOULDER TOO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE TO MERGE OVER I SEEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE I WENT TO TURN BACK AROUND & SMOKE WAS ALSO COMING FROM THE SIDES OF THE STEERING WHEEL , I WENT TOO PUT MY EYES BACK ON THE ROAD & THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE . *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533166
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Electrical System
FRONT RIGHT TURN SIGNAL WENT OUT. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE WHOLE WIRING WENT BAD ON THAT LIGHT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736664
Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
CAR HAD TROUBLE ACCELERATING. SES LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND ALSO NEEDED NEW 0-2 SENSOR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736663
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000
Electrical System
PREMATURE BURN OUT OF REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO T DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT IT WILL WILL COST $100.00 PER LIGHT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #867607
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2000
Electrical System
THE SES LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON TAKING IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY THE FIRST TIME, THEY ADVISED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND REPLACED SAME. I HAD TO RETURN AGAIN ON 10/07/99 BECAUSE THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED THIS TIME. I CALLED THE M…
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THE SES LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND UPON TAKING IT TO TOWN & COUNTRY THE FIRST TIME, THEY ADVISED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRES HAD GONE BAD AND REPLACED SAME. I HAD TO RETURN AGAIN ON 10/07/99 BECAUSE THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED THIS TIME. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND ADVISED THAT I REFUSED TO RETURN TO TOWN & COUNTRY AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO PENN PONTIAC. I WAS ADVISED ONCE AGAIN THAT IT WAS A SPARK PLUG WIRE AND THEY REPLACED SAME AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ON 11/24/99 I HAD TO RETURN TO PENN PONTIAC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE THIRD TIME. ONCE AGAIN, THEY ADVISED THAT IT WAS A SPARK PLUG WIRE AND REPLACED ANOTHER ONE AGAIN. ON 12/10/99, I RETURNED TO PENN PONTIAC FOR THE FOURTH TIME BECAUSE THE SES LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING AND THE ENTIRE BACK END WAS RATTLING. I WAS ADVISED THIS TIME THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A BROKEN BAFFLE IN THE MUFFLER AND THEY REPLACED THE MUFFLER. UPON PICKING UP MY VEHICLE AFTER SAID REPAIRS, THE VEHICLES WAS RATTLING WORSE THAN IT EVER HAD BEFORE. THERE IS NO WAY PHYSICALLY POSSIBLE THAT THEY COULD HAVE TEST DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AFTER SAID REPAIRS AND NOT NOTICED THE HORRIBLE NOISE, BECAUSE IT WAS RATTLING AS SOON AS I STARTED THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY WENT IN AND SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER. HE CAME OUT AND LISTENED TO THE VEHICLE AND HAD A MECHANIC TAKE IT BACK INTO THE SHOP. AFTER WAITING APPROX. 30 MINUTES, THE MANAGER THEN ADVISED ME THAT IT WAS THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE FOLLOWING WEEK TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GO BACK AGAIN AND HAVE THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. HE ASSURED ME THAT IT WOULD ONLY TAKE AN HOUR. I CALLED THE FOLLOWING WEEK AND HAD TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL WEEK BEFORE THEY COULD FIT ME IN. ON 01/05/00, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE 5TH TIME TO HAVE THE CATILYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. AND NOW IT IS 01/21/00 AND THE ALTERNATOR HAS NOW FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING THE SAME WAY.
THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS FOR PROPER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR POSITION. RETRACTORS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WILL BE REINSTALLED CORRECTLY.
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
2
EA97024 · Fuel Tube Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Nov 13, 1997 · Closed Sep 29, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
MOST OF THE REPORTS REVIEWED IN THIS INVESTIGATION ARE FIRE INCIDENTS IN WHICH FUEL LEAKAGE HAS BEEN ALLEGED AS THE CAUSE OR THE AREA OF ORIGIN IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP WAS A FACTOR IN ANY OF THESE FIRE INCIDENTS AND NHTSA TESTING INDICATES THATBROKEN OR DISLODGED RETENTION CLIP DOES NOT RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE TOWARD THE LEFT SECONDARY AIR INJECTION CHECK VALVE.FAILURE OF THE CLIP PLACES THE FUEL LINE BUNDLE ASSEMBLY IN THE SAME CONFIGURATION AS THE 1993 MODEL YEAR LTI VEHICLES.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE97036 · Fuel Tub Retaining Clip Failure
Opened Jul 24, 1997 · Closed Nov 13, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
OWNERS HAVE REPORTED FAILURES OF THE FUEL TUBE RETENTION CLIP THAT ATTACHES TO THE PLASTIC THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER.ACCORDING TO GM, THE SUBJECT RETENTION CLIP (P/N 12048089) WAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 12, 1993, TO ADDRESS A CONCERN WITH INCORRECT ASSEMBLY PLANT FUEL LINE ROUTING.MIS-ROUTED FUEL TUBES MAY FAIL FROM CONTACT WITH A HOT AIR CHECK VALVE, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.GM MAINTAINS THAT NO PROBLEMS SHOULD OCCUR IF THE CLIP IS PROPERLY INSTALLED AND ISN'T MISHANDLED DURING SUBSEQUENT SERVICE OPERATIONS.SOME OWNERS HAVE ALLEGED TO ODI THAT THE SUBJECT CLIP BECOMES BRITTLE OVER TIME AND MAY ALSO PULL FREE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE COVER ATTACHMENT HOLE.
1997 Pontiac Firebird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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