VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING--DETERMINED IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK FROM A 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE POLICE PACKAGE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SEVERE OVERHEATING/MINOR FIRE WHICH CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE INSULATION OF THE GRAY POWER WIRE AND CHAFING OF THE BLACK GROUND WIRE WHICH F…
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VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING--DETERMINED IT WAS A FUEL PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE FUEL TANK FROM A 1994 CHEVROLET CAPRICE POLICE PACKAGE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A SEVERE OVERHEATING/MINOR FIRE WHICH CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE INSULATION OF THE GRAY POWER WIRE AND CHAFING OF THE BLACK GROUND WIRE WHICH FEED THE FUEL PUMP. THESE TWO WIRES CAME INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER AND CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SHORT OUT. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. LUCKILY, THERE WAS ADEQUATE FUEL WITHIN THE TANK TO KEEP THE PUMP SUBMERGED AND PREVENT IGNITION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #715083
Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Electrical SystemFireInjury
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO CONSUMER NOTICED A SMELL AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD. WHILE INSPECTING THE PROBLEM CONSUMER'S FINGER WAS SUFFERELY BURNED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #849598
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Electrical System
CONSUMER WANTS TO REPORT THE DESIGN AND POOR MATERIALS USED ON THE CONNECTOR FROM BATTERY CABLE TO THE FUSE BOX. BELIEVED THIS CONDITION CAUSED POOR CIRCUIT FLOW AND POOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE. NHTSA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. (CONSUMER WILL PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #845063
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Electrical SystemSteering
ALTERNATOR: VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA, DRIVER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT START TO RAIN (DOWN POOR), SAT NAD WAITED FOR RAIN TO STOP ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHILE VEHICLE WAS SHUT-0FF AT THE KEY. RAIN STOPPED AND VEHICLE WAS REASTARTED WITH NO NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD, NO FU…
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ALTERNATOR: VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA, DRIVER PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT START TO RAIN (DOWN POOR), SAT NAD WAITED FOR RAIN TO STOP ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHILE VEHICLE WAS SHUT-0FF AT THE KEY. RAIN STOPPED AND VEHICLE WAS REASTARTED WITH NO NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD, NO FURTHER INCIDENT UNTIL A WEEK LATER, WHEN DRIVER PULLED INTO A RELATIVES DRIVEWAY WHEN NOISE STARTED AGAIN, AT WHICH POINT VEHICLE WAS SHUT-OFF AT KEY AGAIN AND ALLOWED TO COOL FOR TEN MINUTES, WHEN RELATIVE OPENED HOOD TO CHECK ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HE NOTICED EXTREME HEAT COMING FROM ALTERNATOR. ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED NEXT DAY BY MYSELF WITH A REMANUFACTURED UNIT FROM A PARTS SUPPLIER IN MY AREA. PITMAN ARM: PITMAN ARM WAS NOTICED TO BE WORN AND ALLOWED PLAY WITHIN STEERING ASSEMBLY. PITMAN ARM WAS REPLACED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP OF MY CHOICE UPON INSPECTION OF IT AND OTHER AREAS OF THE CHASSIS PER MY REQUEST.
NHTSA ODI #709398
Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
HORN DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, AND IT'S VERY HARD TO USE THE HORN. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838659
Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Electrical System
VEHICLE EXPERENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL WIRING FROM BATTERY CABLE TO MAIN FUSE BLOCK OVERHEATING WHICH COULD CAUSE A POTENTIAL FIRE AS WELL AS STALLING. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837796
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 1998
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, GIVING THE DRIVER NO INDICATION . THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #827108
Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1998
Electrical System
HORN BUTTON DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE DUE TO DESIGN WITH THE AIR BAG PLACED IN HORN BUTTON AREA.
NHTSA ODI #533592
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1997
Electrical System
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 10MPH, MAKING A TURN, ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TURNED OFF, LOST ALL BRAKING POWER/ STEERING AND LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN UP ON CURB UNTIL ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. UPON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, DISCOVERED THAT A POSITIVE CABBLE FROM THE BATTERY LEADING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSE BOX WAS LOOSE. THIS D…
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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 10MPH, MAKING A TURN, ENGINE AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TURNED OFF, LOST ALL BRAKING POWER/ STEERING AND LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD TO RUN UP ON CURB UNTIL ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. UPON CHECKING UNDER THE HOOD, DISCOVERED THAT A POSITIVE CABBLE FROM THE BATTERY LEADING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FUSE BOX WAS LOOSE. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #818591
Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
STARTER FAILED, EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED DUE TO WARPING, PCM FAILED.
THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CRACK AT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN BE AGGRAVATED BY THE SEVERE DUTY CYCLE OF THESE VEHICLES AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO FRACTURE COMPLETELY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND REAR STABILIZER BAR ATTACHMENTS.
DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT LOOSENS, FATIGUES AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE TROTTLE RETURN SPRING, IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE FRICTION IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
THE FUEL TANK ATTACHMENT STRAP FASTENERS WERE NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED. THE FASTENERS CAN COMPLETELY DETACH, EVENTUALLY ALLOWING THE FUEL TANK TO SAG AND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO STRIKE THE ROADWAY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL TANK LEAK AND FIRE IF THE LEAKING FUEL IS EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RETIGHTEN THE FUEL TANK STRAP FASTENERS.
PAINT ON THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES CAN ACT AS A SHIM BETWEEN THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR/DRUM. AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, THE WHEEL IMBEDS INTO THE PAINT, LOOSENING THE LUG NUT AND CAUSING A LOSS OF CLAMP LOAD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: ONCE CLAMP LOAD IS LOST, ALL TIRE LOADS ARE TAKEN BY THE WHEEL STUDS RESULTING IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLES CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CLEAN THE WHEEL MOUNTING SURFACES FOR ALL FOUR WHEELS. ALSO, THE WHEEL STUDS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND WILL BE REPLACED AS NECESSARY.
THE ENGINE OIL COOLER INLET HOSE MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEERING GEAR CAUSING CHAFING. THE CHAFING CAN EVENTUALLY WEAR THROUGH THE HOSE'S PROTECTIVE SLEEVE RESULTING IN ENGINE OIL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE OIL LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: Not supplied
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
4
EA99003 · Coolant Fires
Opened Jan 13, 1999 · Closed Aug 17, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
PE98049 · Coolant Fires
Opened Sep 4, 1998 · Closed Jan 13, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available
EA96022 · Steering Wheel Breakage
Opened Sep 24, 1996 · Closed Apr 4, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE96037 · Sterring Wheel Breakage
Opened May 16, 1996 · Closed Sep 24, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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