REOCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN EVEN 100 MILES THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE EMISSION SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE WINDOWS KEPT GOING OFF TRACK. AS OF NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. I C…
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REOCURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN EVEN 100 MILES THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE IT WONT PASS INSPECTION. THE EMISSION SYSTEM HAS GONE OUT. SINCE WE'VE HAD THE CAR WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SYSTEM AND THE WINDOWS KEPT GOING OFF TRACK. AS OF NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. I CANT AFFORD TO GET IT FIXED SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE" AND I'M ON PERMANENT DISABILITY THROUGH SOCIAL SECURITY.
NHTSA ODI #10040818
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2001
Electrical SystemEquipment
THE FUSE BOX UNDER THE HOOD IS GETTING WET AND KEEPS CORRODING. MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT,HORN,LIGHTER .THEY SHOULD HAVE PUT IT IN A BETTER PLACE.THANK YOU!. *AK
NHTSA ODI #751020
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Electrical System
SPARK PLUGS ARE CAUSING VEHICLE TO DRIVE POORLY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #888845
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2001
Electrical System
ALTERNATER HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. DEFECTIVE ALTERNATER WOULD NOT ALLOW ENGINE TO COOL. *AK CONSUMER STATED ALTERNATOR IS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION IT DOES NOT COOL PROPERLY, TO GET THE PART THE ENGINE MUST BE DROPPED, CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS A POOR DESIGN.*SLC
NHTSA ODI #888844
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Electrical System
FOUND ODI ID 735734 ON YOUR WEB SITE, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY RECALL NOT ISSUED?. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743219
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Electrical System
APPEARS DESIGN FLAW IN THE LOCATION OF ALTERNATOR CAUSING FAILURE?*AK
NHTSA ODI #739053
Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2000
Electrical System
PREMATURE ALTENATOR FAILURE, CAUSED BY ALTENATOR BEING POSITIONED UNDER CAR , WHICH CAUSES IT TO BE OUT OF A "COOLING AIR FLOW" AND TO OVERHEAT/BURN UP,INTERNALLY. PLUS, DUE TO IT'S LOCATION, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, AND SUB FRAME HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE ALTENATOR. ALTENATORS SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE. I HAVE SPOK…
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PREMATURE ALTENATOR FAILURE, CAUSED BY ALTENATOR BEING POSITIONED UNDER CAR , WHICH CAUSES IT TO BE OUT OF A "COOLING AIR FLOW" AND TO OVERHEAT/BURN UP,INTERNALLY. PLUS, DUE TO IT'S LOCATION, THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE, AND SUB FRAME HAVE TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE ALTENATOR. ALTENATORS SHOULD NOT FAIL AT THIS MILEAGE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OTHER 96-Z-34 OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. CLEARLY A BAD DESIGN BY GM, AND IT PASSES AN UNNEEDED/UNWANTED BURDEN ON TO PEOPLE WHO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS AND HOPE THEM TO BE TROUBLE FREE,. MODERN TECHNOLOGY SHOULD ALLOW THEM TO BUILD A SYSTEM THAT IS MORE DURABLE. I HAVE TWO OTHER VEHICLES, THAT ARE MUCH OLDER THAN THIS CAR THAT ARE MUCH MORE RELIABLE AND LESS COSTLY TO MAINTAIN. THIS POOREST / AND MOST UNRELIABLE OF MONTE CARLO NOW HAS A REPUTATION IN THE MARKET PLACE AND THE RESALE VALUE HAS PLUMMMENTED. THERE SHOULD BE SOME LIABILITY ON GM'S PART.*AK
NHTSA ODI #735734
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Electrical System
THIS CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPEAT REPAIRS SINCE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER, GM HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP IN THE REPAIRS OF THIS CAR. WHAT HAPPEN TO APPLIED WARRANTIES ON REPAIRS TO CARS. THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITS WITH THIS CARS …
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THIS CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT HAS BEEN IN FOR REPEAT REPAIRS SINCE UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY IS OVER, GM HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP IN THE REPAIRS OF THIS CAR. WHAT HAPPEN TO APPLIED WARRANTIES ON REPAIRS TO CARS. THEY ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITS WITH THIS CARS FAILURES. I WAS INFORMED BY A DEALERS SERVICE MANAGER, THAT GM KNOWS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE CAR'S ALTERNATOR ON THE ENGINE AND IT CAUSED SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT GM HAS SINCE RELOCATED THE ALTERNATOR ON LATER MODELS AND THAT SEEMS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH HAVING TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. IN NOVEMBER 1999, I PAID TO HAVE A PCM REPLACED AND THE TECHNICIAN FORGOT TO REPLACE THE NO KNOCK MODULE IN THE PCM. THIS CAUSED THE CARS SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TAKEN BACK FOR REPAIR AGAIN. THIS MISTAKE CAUSED ME TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER CAR. (TOYOTA).
NHTSA ODI #729848
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2000
Electrical System
LOST ALL POWER NUMEROUS TIMES IN 1ST FEW MONTHS - DEALER NEVER ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH ONE OF THE FOUR BRAKE BOOSTER TABS NOT PROPERLY LOCATED IN THE FRONT OF DASH REINFORCEMENT ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION WERE PRESENT IN A SITUATION WHERE STOPPING DISTANCES WERE SMALL, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER BOOSTER INSTALLATION. BOOSTERS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY LOCATED WILL BE REMOVED AND REINSTALLED PROPERLY.
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
5
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.
EA98019 · Degraded Braking Performance
Opened Aug 31, 1998 · Closed Dec 13, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE98023 · Degraded Braking Performance
Opened Apr 23, 1998 · Closed Aug 31, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
No summary supplied.
EA96023 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Sep 27, 1996 · Closed Feb 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
THE FAILURE RATE (1.25/100K) ON THIS ISSUE IS LOW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITURE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS ISSUE.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.
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