THE STEERING MAKES LOTS OF NOISES. MAJOR STEERING COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, YET THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. MY 4TH ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, RESULTED IN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISING ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE STEERING GETS WORSE. HE CLAIMED THE NOISES ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH, NOR FREQUENT ENOUGH TO B…
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THE STEERING MAKES LOTS OF NOISES. MAJOR STEERING COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, YET THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS. MY 4TH ATTEMPT TO HAVE THE PROBLEM REPAIRED, RESULTED IN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADVISING ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE STEERING GETS WORSE. HE CLAIMED THE NOISES ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH, NOR FREQUENT ENOUGH TO BE REPAIRED. I SAY IT IS VERY FRIGHTENING TO HEAR SUCH NOISES WHEN STEERING THE CAR, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS (45+). I NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT IS PARKED AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL I AM ASSURED THAT IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #752232
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Power TrainSteering
I HAVE RETURNED MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR A REPEAT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUE TO HEAR, AFTER EACH REPAIR IS TRIED, GRINDING IN THE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO GOES DOWN WHILE TURNING IT UP. BOTH MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE HEARD CREAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE WHILE TURNING AT…
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I HAVE RETURNED MY VEHICLE THREE TIMES FOR A REPEAT PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I CONTINUE TO HEAR, AFTER EACH REPAIR IS TRIED, GRINDING IN THE GEARS WHILE SHIFTING. THE VOLUME ON THE RADIO GOES DOWN WHILE TURNING IT UP. BOTH MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS HAVE HEARD CREAKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF MY VEHICLE WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS. THESE ARE ALL CONTIUAL PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR OR EVEN NOTICE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #751236
Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Steering
A NOISE WAS COMING FROM DASHBOARD DURING NORMAL OPERATION. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE THREE TIMES, AND COULD NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. ON THE FOURTH EXAMINATION,DEALERSHIP REPLACED STEERING GEAR BOX WHICH CORRECTED THE NOISE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #891614
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringVisibility
I KEEP TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT HELP; I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A SQUELING NOISE IN MY TIRES, AND MY STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN MAKES A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE; MY DRIVERS WINDOW HAS LOCKED UP ON ME T…
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I KEEP TAKING MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH MY WINDSHIELD FOGGING UP, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS AND THE DEFOGGER DOES NOT HELP; I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A SQUELING NOISE IN MY TIRES, AND MY STEERING COLUMN, STEERING COLUMN MAKES A HIGH PITCHED SOUND WHEN IN REVERSE; MY DRIVERS WINDOW HAS LOCKED UP ON ME TWICE; WHEN I FIRST TOOK THE CAR TO BE CHECKED FOR MY TIRES THEY SAID THE MANUFACTURE DID NOT INSTALL THE NUTS AND BOLTS CORRECTLY AND THE SAME WITH MY STEERING COLUMN AND THEY SAID THEY WERE FIX BUT THEY ARE NOT!!!!! ; I AM GETTING SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO TAKE MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMS TO BE EVERY 3-4 WEEKS NOW; THE LAST TIME I TOOK THE CAR THE KEPT IT ALL DAY AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. PLEASE WARN PEOPLE ABOUT THESE CARS I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE PROBLEMS; EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 OTHER PEOPLE WITH ALMOST THE SAME PROBLEMS OR HAS ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM I HAVE.
NHTSA ODI #744761
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering
AFTER 500 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER LATER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IDLE ARM. VEHICLE CONTINUED GRINDING NOISE, AND DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALER WILL NOT PROCESS FURTHER REPAIRS.…
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AFTER 500 MILES VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. DEALER LATER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND IDLE ARM. VEHICLE CONTINUED GRINDING NOISE, AND DEALER REPLACED PARTS OF CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. ALSO, DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT GMC WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM, BUT NO REMEDY HAS BEEN ISSUED. DEALER WILL NOT PROCESS FURTHER REPAIRS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #886705
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001
Steering
RACK & PINION STEERING KEPT GOING OUT. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO JERK LEFT. THIS WAS SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. HAD THE PROBLEM REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY, BUT HAS REAPPEARED AGAIN. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE.*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. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
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
EA02028 · Erratic Fuel Gauge
Opened Sep 30, 2002 · Closed Dec 30, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, 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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline
ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, 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.
Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
ODI OPENED EA 02-028 TO REVIEW COMPLAINTS OF CONSUMERS REPORTING THAT THEIR FUEL GAUGE WAS INCORRECTLY DISPLAYING THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK.THE FUEL GAUGE RECEIVES AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FROM A FUEL TANK SENDING SENSOR CIRCUIT CARD.A FLOAT ARM IN THE TANK MOVES ELECTRICAL CONTACTS THAT RUB AGAINST THE CARD AS THE LEVEL OF FUEL RISES AND FALLS.DISRUPTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL (SUCH AS CAUSED BY CORROSION OF THE CIRCUIT CARD) WILL CAUSE INCORRECT READINGS TO REGISTER ON THE FUEL GAUGE.GM REPORTED IN THEIR RESPONSE TO ODI DATED JANUARY 13, 2003 THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF ERRATIC FUEL GAUGE OPERATION IS EXCESS ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN FUEL.GM REPORTED THAT ABNORMAL LEVELS OF SULFUR SPORADICALLY OCCURRED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF CANADA AND THE U.S. RESULTING IN REPORTS OF FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTION.GM MODIFIED THE SENDING SENSOR FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER OCTOBER 2000.IT MADE A SECOND SENSOR MODIFICATION FOR VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JANUARY 2003.GM ALSO ISSUED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN (GM NUMBER 00101) IN DECEMBER 2000 FOR U.S. CUSTOMERS IN THE STATE OF MAINE AND ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS INFORMING DEALERS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF SENSORS WITH IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE.THE COMPLAINT TREND INDICATES THAT COMPLAINTS PEAKED IN LATE 2000 TO EARLY 2001.WARRANTY CLAIMS DECLINED SINCE PEAKING IN APRIL 2002.BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND THE INDICATION OF A DECLINING TREND, 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.
SQ01002 · Erratic Fuel Gauge
Opened Jan 26, 2001 · Closed Sep 30, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
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