CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ONE FOR A DAY AND GO OFF DID THIS 3 TIMES BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE OF ALTERNATER & BATTERY/FRONT END/STEERING/BRAKES(ABS) ABD SHOCKS. CAR WILL PULL HARD TO THE LEFT WHILE BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAVE TO FIGHT STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CAR IN LANE. HAD BRAKES CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ( FRONT…
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CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ONE FOR A DAY AND GO OFF DID THIS 3 TIMES BEFORE TOTAL FAILURE OF ALTERNATER & BATTERY/FRONT END/STEERING/BRAKES(ABS) ABD SHOCKS. CAR WILL PULL HARD TO THE LEFT WHILE BRAKING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. HAVE TO FIGHT STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CAR IN LANE. HAD BRAKES CHECKED AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ( FRONT BRAKES WERE VERY HOT) HIT SMALL BUMP OR POTHOLE OR TAKING TURN OR GOING DOWN THE STREET/HIGHWAY AND CAR WILL WANDER LEFT AND RIGTH WHILE YOU ARE HOLDING THE WHEEL. SOMETIMES IT IS BAD ENOUGH TO HAVE TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT. NHTSA RECALL #96V249000 MY CAR DOES NOT FALL IN THE MANFACTURED DATE OF JULY 96 CAN I STILL HAVE CHECKED NO CHARGE? I WAS TAKING WAX OF MY CAR WITH KEYS IN THE IGNITION CAR OFF, THE POWER DOOR LOOKS LOCKED CAR. I HAVE SEEN MORE COMPLAINTS IN YOUR CONSUMER COMPLAINT SECTION OF THESE ISSUES I HAVE JUST REPORTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705154
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Electrical System
AT ANY SPEED LIGHTS ON CONTROL PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND CAR WOULD SUDDENLY DIE OUT. INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. DEALER CONTACTED AND ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY PROBLEM BY INSTALLING NEW COMPUTER. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836119
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1998
Electrical SystemFire
IGNITION COIL FAILED CAUSING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND EXHAUST COMPONENTS TO BECOME HOT ENOUGH TO MELT AND CATCH SURROUNDINGS ON FIRE
NHTSA ODI #701599
Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1998
Electrical System
MY CAR HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART FOR FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. TWO TIMES THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. ONE TIME IT STALLED ON A BLIND TURN ON A BACK ROAD AND PEOPLE HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID ME. THE OTHER TIME THE LOSE OF POWER STEERING MAK…
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MY CAR HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES WHILE DRIVING. I LOSE ALL POWER AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART FOR FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR. TWO TIMES THE SITUATION WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I WAS NEARLY IN AN ACCIDENT. ONE TIME IT STALLED ON A BLIND TURN ON A BACK ROAD AND PEOPLE HAS TO SWERVE TO AVOID ME. THE OTHER TIME THE LOSE OF POWER STEERING MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO AVOID OTHER CARS AS I TRIED TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR AND I AM SO SCARED THAT I'M GOING TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I'VE HAD THE CAR ON A FLATBED FOUR TIMES AND BROUGHT TO THE DEALER. EACH TIME THE CAR STARTS FOR THE DEALER AND THEY CAN FIND NO PROBLEMS. THEY SAY IT COULD BE TO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND CANNOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE CAR HAS ALSO FAILED TO START ON SIX OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THIS PROBLEM EITHER.
NHTSA ODI #700813
Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Electrical System
RIGHT SIDE HORN AREA PRESSED AND HORN STAYED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES BEFORE IT FINNALY SHUT OFF.
NHTSA ODI #781027
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
TRANSMISSION LEAKS FLUID DUE TO A FAILED TRANS-AXLE SEAL.
NHTSA ODI #540863
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
WATER FAILED DUE TO LEAKING.
NHTSA ODI #540862
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ALTERNATOR FAILED DUE TO THE CHARGING SYSTEM.
NHTSA ODI #540861
Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1998
Electrical System
ELECTRICAL WIRING MALFUNCTION IS CAUSING THE BATTERY CHECK LIGHT TO CONTINUALLY FLASH.
NHTSA ODI #537943
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1998
Electrical System
WHEN CONSUMER SHUTS OFF THE ENGINE, THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO WHERE HE COULD TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, AND THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE CONTACTED. *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.
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.
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.
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
2
RQ03001 · 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.
1996 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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