PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. WOULDN'T START. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. MORE SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR. WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE CAR. NOT MORE THAN A MINUTE LATER THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE INGULFED IN FLAMES. IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. THE CAR…
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PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. WOULDN'T START. NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. MORE SMOKE STARTED TO APPEAR. WITHIN MINUTES THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING FROM THE CAR. NOT MORE THAN A MINUTE LATER THE FRONT SEATS OF THE CAR WERE INGULFED IN FLAMES. IN A MATTER OF MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722925
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #558889
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFireInjury
THE CAR SET ON FIRE AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, BLEW A ROD AND MELTED THE SPARK PLUGS, THE COMPUTER FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION BLEW.
NHTSA ODI #720972
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED ITSELF AND CAUGHT FIRE. *MJS
NHTSA ODI #551534
Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2000
Electrical System
THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED CAUSING THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE AND TACHOMETER TO ACT ERRATICALLY. NLM
NHTSA ODI #551289
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
A FIRE OCCURED AT THE STEERING COLUMN AREA DUE TO A IGNITION SWITCH SHORT WHICH OVERHEATED IGNITING THE SWITCH AND SURROUNDING AREAS. NLM
NHTSA ODI #551195
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
THIS AUTO HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR JUST 4 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. I BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCALA NATIONAL FORREST WITH 4 10 YEAR OLD GIRLS IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN, I HAVE REPLACED A 4 YEAR OLD BATTERY AT 2 YEARS AGE AND ALL OF THE FUSES. IN 1/00 WHILE DRIVING IN A FOG WHITE OUT ON TOP OF…
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THIS AUTO HAS TOTAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR JUST 4 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE. I BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCALA NATIONAL FORREST WITH 4 10 YEAR OLD GIRLS IN THE CAR. SINCE THEN, I HAVE REPLACED A 4 YEAR OLD BATTERY AT 2 YEARS AGE AND ALL OF THE FUSES. IN 1/00 WHILE DRIVING IN A FOG WHITE OUT ON TOP OF A 300 FT BRIDGE, I PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT. A VEHICLE BEHIND ME DIDN'T SEE ME AND NEARLY PUSHED US BOTH OFF THE BRIDGE. SINCE THEN EVERY TIME I PUT ON MY FLASHERS, ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL THINGS STOP. MY ELECT DOOR LOCKS KEEP BLOWING FUSES AND WINDOWS DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. I'V CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME ALL THESE PROBLEMS BEGAN AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT WAS MY PROBLEM. I PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRENTY, BUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED. PLEASE HELP!! *AK
NHTSA ODI #718685
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED. IT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. FIRED DEPARMENT ARRIVED & PUT FLAMES OUT. INDICATED TO OWNER OF VEHICLE THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855812
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1999
Electrical System
PROBLEMS WITH TURN SIGNALS/EMERGENCY FLASHERS,AND DASH LIGHTS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, RECENTLY HAD TROUBLE STARTING, AS IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN OVER A FEW TIMES IN ROW.WHEN TURN SIGNALS DIDNT WORK I TURNED ON EMERGENCY, AND FAILED TO WORK.ALMOST REAR ENDED! *AK
NHTSA ODI #715069
Mileage unknown · Nov 12, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
HAD PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE. HEARD HORN GO OFF. HUSBAND OPENED DOOR TO CHECK & FLAMES SHOT OUT. CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. INSIDE OF VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
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
EA00007 · Steering Column Fires
Opened Mar 3, 2000 · Closed Feb 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE99063 · Steering Column Fire
Opened Oct 7, 1999 · Closed Mar 3, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
ODI HAS EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF STEERING COLUMN FIRES TO INCLUDE ALL MODELS BUILT ON THE N-PLATFORM.GM HAS INDICATED IN ITS RESPONSE THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A ROTARY IGNITION SWITCH THAT HAS BEEN IN USE IN A NUMBER OF VEHICLE MODELS SINCE 1991 ON BOTH THE N AND J-PLATFORMS.HOWEVER, THE 1994-1995 N-PLATFORM IS OVER REPRESENTED ACCOUNTING FOR 83 (81%) OF THE COMBINDED TOTAL OF 102 REPORTS DESPITE BEING ONLY 14.2% OF THE COMBINED POPULATION. OF THE 10 NEW REPORTS RECEIVED SINCE OPENING EA99-063, 7 INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF A NO START CONDITION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE STARTER.A FIRE IS CLAIMED TO HAVE ENSUED IN THE STEERING COLUMN IMMEDIATELY THERAFTER.GM ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) (NO. 433203) JULY 1994 WHIICH ADDRESSED OWNER COMPLAINTS THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MAY NOT RETURN TO THE RUN POSITION AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED.THE TSB ADVISES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MOUNTING SCREWS MAY BE EXCESSIVELY TORQUED RESULTING IN DISTORTION OF THE SWITCH HOUSING.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE(S) AND TO DETERMIN IF A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.
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