NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
104 reportsClear category filter102,988 miles · Oct 22, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemInjury
ON OCTOBER 18, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN FAIR WEATHER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, THOUGH NO CONTACT WAS MADE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR STATIONARY OBJECT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED EXTREME IRRITATION VIA FRICTION BURN TO RIGHT FOREARM OF DRIVER, TEMPORARY HEARING DISTRESS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND …
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ON OCTOBER 18, 2005 WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH IN FAIR WEATHER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED, THOUGH NO CONTACT WAS MADE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR STATIONARY OBJECT. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT CAUSED EXTREME IRRITATION VIA FRICTION BURN TO RIGHT FOREARM OF DRIVER, TEMPORARY HEARING DISTRESS TO DRIVER AND PASSENGER AND NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE DUE TO SHOCK OF THIS DEPLOYMENT. INVESTIGATION OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS SHOWS THAT LIKELY CAUSE IS SHORT IN AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE UNDER PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO PRESENCE OF WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. WATER ON FLOOR HAS BEEN A PERENNIAL PROBLEM IN MY VEHICLE AND MANY ATTEMPTS TO ASCERTAIN THE CAUSE (ATTRIBUTE TO LEAKY MOLDING, POOR FITTING WINDOW TRIM, ETC.), WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. PERUSAL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE SHOW A CLEAR PATTERN OF SIMILAR EVENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (PER TECH ISSUE MEMO ISSUED BY GM IN 1998) RELATED TO INFERIOR ADHESIVE USED DURING ASSEMBLY OF TOP VENT GRILLE. EXCESSIVE RAIN TYPICALLY RESULTS IN WATER ON FLOOR OF PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND HAS CAUSED THIS SAME UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS IN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. LIKELIHOOD OF GM ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND REPAIRING THE PROBLEM IS APPARENTLY SLIM (PER OTHER COMPLAINANTS REPORTS) DUE TO AGE OF VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT IT HAS TAKEN YEARS TO PRESENT ITSELF, MEANING NO RECALL WAS ISSUED BY PONTIAC. I WOULD RECOMMEND ALL OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS WATER PROBLEM REPORT IT THEIR GM DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO EXPERIENCING THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AS IT COULD HAVE HAD MUCH MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IF TRAVELING AT HIGHER SPEEDS IN LESS THAN IDEAL CONDITIONS!!!*JB
NHTSA ODI #10140491
62,000 miles · Jul 8, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemSeat Belts
A TECH ISSUE MEMO ISSUED FROM PONTIAC/GM DATED APRIL, 1998 STATED THAT OWNERS MAY CLAIM WATER LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR DUE TO AN INFERIOR ADHESIVE USED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ON THE TOP VENT GRILLE... WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY MECHANIC, AFTER I DISVOERED WATER LEAKAGE ON MY PASSENGER AREA FL…
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A TECH ISSUE MEMO ISSUED FROM PONTIAC/GM DATED APRIL, 1998 STATED THAT OWNERS MAY CLAIM WATER LEAKING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR DUE TO AN INFERIOR ADHESIVE USED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS ON THE TOP VENT GRILLE... WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY MECHANIC, AFTER I DISVOERED WATER LEAKAGE ON MY PASSENGER AREA FLOOR FOR 2 YEARS (WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO MY NEGLIGENCE ONLY) UNTIL THIS WATER LEAKAGE FINALLY CAUSED A SHORT IN MY AIR BAG MODULE (LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT) WHICH CAUSED ALL OF THE OTHER CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS TO SHORT OUT. SEAL TO THE TOP VENT GRILLE WAS REPLACED, SHORT REPAIRED, AIRBAG MODULE WAS DISCONNECTED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE AIRBAG MODULE WILL BE REPLACED AT A LATER DATE WHEN I CAN AFFORD IT. THIS TOTALS $956.99 (INCLUDING NY SALES TAX) WHICH I REQUESTED PONTIAC REIMBURSE ME FOR. THEY STEADFASTEDLY REFUSE TO REIMBURSE ME DUE TO BASICALLY 4 THINGS: (1) THE WARRANTY TIME EXPIRED ON THE CAR, (2) THE AGE OF THE CAR, (3) THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T BRING IT DIRECTLY TO PONTIAC TO FIX IT (4) THE FACT THAT IT WASN'T A RECALL... MY ARGUEMENT IS: (1) THE WARRANTY EXPIRING SHOULDN'T ABSOLVE GM/PONTIAC OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEFECT, (2) THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ON THIS CAR (IN SPITE OF IT'S AGE) WOULDN'T HAVE PRODUCED THIS WATER DAMAGE IF THE TOP VENT GRILLE WAS PROPERLY SEALED IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BY PONTIAC IN THE FIRST PLACE (3) I DIDN'T KNOW THAT PONTIAC CAUSED THIS PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE AND MY MECHANIC TOLD ME ABOUT THE TECH ISSUE MEMO (I HAVE A COPY) AND (4) WHY WASN'T THIS A RECALL? I SENT A LETTER TO PONTIAC'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER IN DETROIT, MI ON OR ABOUT JUNE 27, 2005 WITH ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION BACKING UP MY CLAIM (YOURS FOR THE ASKING), WHO CALLED ME BACK TODAY, REFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME ON THIS CLAIM. I KNOW THAT NEGLIGENCE BY PONTIAC CAUSED SOME MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY CAR OF WHICH I BELIEVE I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR.
NHTSA ODI #10128133
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2005
Air Bags
DT: CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONTACT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO COLLISION.*AK CONSUMER STATES LAWYERS, INSURANCE COMPANY, OR GM WILL NOT HELP WITH THIS MATTER BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT OR ANY INJURIES.*SB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10122530
110,100 miles · Apr 11, 2005
Air Bags
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10117682
95,941 miles · Apr 4, 2005
Air Bags
AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10117306
95,500 miles · Apr 4, 2005
Air BagsInjury
I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS IN SHOCK AND HAD TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS. BOTH OF MY LIPS WERE BLOODIED, I WAS BURNED ON MY NECK AND I STILL HAVE OCASSIONAL RINGING IN MY EARS. I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT WHEN MY LINE OF VISION WAS CLEAR, I SAW I HAD MAINTAINED THE PO…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY DRIVERSIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I WAS IN SHOCK AND HAD TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS. BOTH OF MY LIPS WERE BLOODIED, I WAS BURNED ON MY NECK AND I STILL HAVE OCASSIONAL RINGING IN MY EARS. I DON'T KNOW HOW, BUT WHEN MY LINE OF VISION WAS CLEAR, I SAW I HAD MAINTAINED THE POSITION IN MY LANE AND CONTINUED TRAVELING. THEN, A FEW MINUTES LATER, MY PASSENGER- SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. THANKFULLY, MY GIRLFRIEND WAS SLEEPING IN THE BACKSEAT. AGAIN I HAD TEMPORARY HEARING LOSS, BUT KEPT DRIVING UNTIL I GOT TO MY HOME. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY DID NOT FEEL THEY COULD HELP SINCE THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE A SERIES OF PHONE CALLS BETWEEN GENERAL MOTORS, MY DAD AND ME. OUT OF THE BLUE IN ONE CONVERSATION, GENERAL MOTORS ASKED IF I HAD WATER ON MY FLOORBOARD AND WHEN I SAID THAT I DID, THEY SAID THE AIRBAGS PROBABLY DEPLOYED BECAUSE OF THIS AND IT WAS MY FAULT FOR NOT GETTING THAT FIXED. WHEN MY DAD ASKED WHAT THAT HAD TO DO WITH THE AIRBAGS AND IF THEY WERE AWARE THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM, THEY SAID IT WAS A ROUTINE QUESTION. SUBSEQUENTLY, A GENERAL MOTORS DEALERSHIP HAS CONCLUDED THAT WATER UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT CAUSE THE COMPUTER MODULE TO CORRODE. THEY ARE WILLING TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS AND THE COMPUTER, BUT NOT FIX THEY WATER PROBLEM THAT THEY INDICATED MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THIS PROBLEM WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND HAVE SINCE RECEIVED TECHNICAL BULLETINS STATING THAT THE WATER PROBLEM IS INHERENT TO THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116339
142,441 miles · Dec 20, 2004
Air BagsInjury
ON WENESDAY DECEMBER 15 AT APPROXIMENTALLY 7:20 P.M. I WENT OUT TO MY BOYFRIEND, SCOTT FULLER'S CAR TO ROLL UP A WINDOW THAT WAS DOWN. AS I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURNED 1 CLICK, THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I HAVE A CUT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY THROAT, AND I BIT THROUGH MY LIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, I HAVE…
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ON WENESDAY DECEMBER 15 AT APPROXIMENTALLY 7:20 P.M. I WENT OUT TO MY BOYFRIEND, SCOTT FULLER'S CAR TO ROLL UP A WINDOW THAT WAS DOWN. AS I PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURNED 1 CLICK, THE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED IN MY FACE. I HAVE A CUT IN THE MIDDLE OF MY THROAT, AND I BIT THROUGH MY LIP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, I HAVE BRUISING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY CHEST AND I CAN BARELY HEAR IN ME LEFT EAR. HIS WINDOWS ARE ELECTRIC THAT IS WHY I NEEDED TO PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE HAS A 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM GT, VIN # 2NW12M6TC813666, CAR MILEAGE:142,441AND HIS INSURANCE COMPANY IS AA&J INSURANCE COMPANY 109 E. MAIN ST. GOUVERNEUR N.Y. 13642 POLICY # 17772843-1. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10104161
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2004
Air Bags
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WHILE CONSUMER WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED THE MECHANIC. *AK *SC
NHTSA ODI #10099476
11,000 miles · Jul 30, 2004
Air BagsInjury
WHILE CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER COLLIDED WITH ANYTHING NOR RAN OVER ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE FIRST AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A SPLIT LIP AND ABRASIONS…
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WHILE CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEVER COLLIDED WITH ANYTHING NOR RAN OVER ANYTHING. THE NEXT DAY CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR THE FIRST AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED A SPLIT LIP AND ABRASIONS ON THE ARMS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10083933
8,400 miles · Jul 13, 2004
Air Bags
AIR BAG WENT OFF BY STARTING MY CAR IN THE DRIVE WAY.GM SAID THEY CAN NOT HELP BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10080935
Official recalls
4Mar 6, 2002
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.
Feb 17, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR THE INTERIOR LAMPS TO COME ON UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLES ARE BEING DRIVEN. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERIOR LAMPS COMING ON UNEXPECTEDLY COULD STARTLE A DRIVER CAUSING A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON THE LAMP CONTROL MODULE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT.
Dec 17, 1996
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
Dec 17, 1996
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.
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
2RQ03001 · 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.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, 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 A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
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