Air BagsElectrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND MAY 2003, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES AND 3 VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL "SHORTS." EITHER THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIM INDICATING A BATTERY DRAIN. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THE BATTERY WOUL…
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BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND MAY 2003, I HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 BATTERIES AND 3 VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR ELECTRICAL "SHORTS." EITHER THE ANTILOCK BRAKE WARNING LIGHT, OR THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND THE INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WOULD BECOME INCREASINGLY DIM INDICATING A BATTERY DRAIN. WITHIN A DAY OR TWO, THE BATTERY WOULD BE COMPLETELY DRAINED, AND THERE IS NO POWER AT ALL. THE DEALER REPORTS FINDING PROBLEMS IN THE BATTERY CELLS AND SHORTS IN THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH EACH TIME, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10019263
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015901
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2003
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10015546
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CONSUMER WAS INJURED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10011180
Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 2002
Air BagsCrash
VEHICLE HIT A DEER AT 35-40 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. BUMPER WAS CRACKED AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS DESTROYED. DAMAGE WAS $ 450.00. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8008877
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2002
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA LS MODEL 4-DOOR SEDAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I KNEW I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGIN…
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ON SUNDAY JANUARY 27, 2002 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT TO A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA LS MODEL 4-DOOR SEDAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. ABOUT A WEEK AND HALF BEFORE THE ACCIDENT I KNEW I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPING AND I BROUGHT IT TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AT HURD BUICK-CHEVROLET-PONTIAC-GMC TRUCKS LOCATED IN JOHNSTON, RI 02919, AND HAD THEM LOOK AT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM THAT WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING AND I HAD TO APPLY A GREAT FORCE ON THE PEDAL AND ALLOW MORE TIMING TO STOP THAN NORMAL. THE AUTO TECHNICIAN SAID NOTHING HE COULD FIND WRONG BUT ADJUSTED THE BRAKES AND CLEANED THEM. A WEEK AND HALF LATER WHILE TRAVELING TO A DRUG STORE I APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE EXCEPT A CONCRETE LIGHT POLE BASE THAT I HIT. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMP, HOOD, AND LIGHTS AND RIGHT FENDER AND THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $3,500.00. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT AND BOTH THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG AND PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DISPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTOBODY GARAGE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR I FELT THE VEHICLE LOST HALF OF ITS BRAKE POWER TO FULLY STOP. I HOPE THIS INCIDENT CAN BE PREVENTED FROM HAPPENING AGAIN NEXT TIME IT MAY BE FATAL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757962
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. HAVE NOT CONTACTED DEALERSHIP.*AK *SLC
NHTSA ODI #8001767
Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury
THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS 2 HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLES IN IT ONE BURNT LOOKING AND THE OTHER RIPPED BOTH ON EVEN SIDES THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DEPLOYED RIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD TO SHOVE MINE OUT OF MY FACE HIS WENT FLAT AUTOMATICALLY THROWING HIM INTO THE WIND SHIELD AND ALSO …
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THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR HAS 2 HALF DOLLAR SIZE HOLES IN IT ONE BURNT LOOKING AND THE OTHER RIPPED BOTH ON EVEN SIDES THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DEPLOYED RIGHT BECAUSE HE HAD TO SHOVE MINE OUT OF MY FACE HIS WENT FLAT AUTOMATICALLY THROWING HIM INTO THE WIND SHIELD AND ALSO HIS SEATBELT BROKE FROM THE PLASTIC PART FROM THE DOOR NOT HELPING THE MATTER ANY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #756010
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2001
Air BagsCrash
FRONTAL COLLISION WITH A PHONE POLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 OR MORE MPH,ESTIMATED DAMAGES WAS $4,700.00. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #899638
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
AIR BAG LIGHTS STAYS ON, THE DEALER CLEARED CONNECTION, CLEARED CODES AND ALSO REPLACED PASSENGER SIDE MODULE BUT THE LIGHTIS STILL ON .
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE RETAINERS COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
EA03019 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Sep 15, 2003 · Closed Dec 18, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM'S LETTER TO NHTSA DATED DECEMBER 11, 2003, EXPANDS ITS ORIGINAL RECALL (NHTSA 02V286) TO INCLUDE CERTAIN W-BODY VEHICLES: 96-97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME; 98 OLDS INTRIGUE; 97-98 OLDS CUTLASS; 97-98 CHEVY LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND MALIBU; 96 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX; AND 96-98 BUICK REGAL.THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES RECALLED IS 750,283.GM DETERMINED THAT FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION IS RELATED TO DAMAGE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING AND THE LEVEL OF THE PINION BEARING PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE.GM STATES, HIGHER RACK PRE-LOAD SPRING FORCE (133 LB.) IS THE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH HIGHER BEARING DAMAGE RATES IN MOST OF THE VEHICLE APPLICATIONS THAT USED THE GENERAL BEARING COMPANY (GBC) BEARING.ALL OF THE VEHICLES COVERED IN THE EXPANDED RECALL HAVE THE 133 LB SPRING FORCE.THE 96 LUMINA/MONTE CARLO AND 97-98 CENTURY W-BODY VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THIS INVESTIGATION UTILIZE A LOWER SPRING FORCE AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
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.
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