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1996 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 155 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

14 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

What owners actually said

155 reports
50,000 miles · Nov 18, 2014
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #10658939

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10649232

148,000 miles · Oct 21, 2014
Fuel/propulsion System

THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. THE LEAK CAUSED FUEL TO BE RELEASED IN LARGE QUANTITIES DIRECTLY INTO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. FUEL CONTINUED TO FLOW OUT INTO THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND. SEVERAL GA…

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THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A SEVERE LEAK. THE LEAK CAUSED FUEL TO BE RELEASED IN LARGE QUANTITIES DIRECTLY INTO THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND OUT THE THROTTLE BODY. FUEL CONTINUED TO FLOW OUT INTO THE AIR CLEANER HOUSING AND EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO THE GROUND. SEVERAL GALLONS OF FUEL WERE DISCHARGED IN THIS FASHION. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING POORLY BUT GAVE NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A LEAK UNTIL THE AIR CLEAN WAS OPENED. THE PART THAT FAILED WAS A STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS PART NUMBER PR216T PURCHASED FROM ROCKAUTO.COM ON 5/15/2013 AND INSTALLED SHORTLY THEREAFTER. VEHICLE MILEAGE AT INSTALLATION WAS APPROXIMATELY 131000. THE PART FAILED ON 10/20/2014 AT VEHICLE MILEAGE148243 MILES. THE PART WAS INSTALLED TO CORRECT A SIMILAR SITUATION INVOLVING A MUCH LESS SEVERE LEAK IN AN OLDER PART. THE FUEL LEAKAGE WITH THE OLDER PART DID NOT ESCAPE THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. AGE AND ORIGIN OF THE OLDER PART ARE NOT KNOWN. THE OLDER PART MAY HAVE BEEN ORIGINAL TO THE VEHICLE. GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT QUANTITY OF FUEL DISCHARGED AND THE REPEATED NATURE OF THE FAILURE, I FEEL AN INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649126

80,000 miles · Oct 8, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE. A LOCAL MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO DO SO. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT IDENTIFY OR LOCATE THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FOR HIS MODEL. NO REPAIRS W…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SLIPPED OUT OF PLACE. A LOCAL MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND DID NOT HAVE ALL OF THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO DO SO. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT IDENTIFY OR LOCATE THE CORRECT TRANSMISSION FOR HIS MODEL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #10286808

181,545 miles · Oct 10, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED IMMEDIATELY UPON STARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT IMMEDIATELY STALLED AGAIN. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10170361

84,000 miles · Aug 12, 2006
SeatsInjury

1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Z34, POWER DRIVER SEAT FRAME DEFECT. BOTTOM OF SEAT DETACHED FROM FRAME, WHICH MADE DRIVER FALL BACKWARD TOWARD REAR SEATS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10165299

75,385 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE HAVING A TICKING NOISE AFTER I START IT UP IN THE MORNING SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THE AUTO ONLY HAS 75000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME. THERE WAS A TSB #57-61-24A JUN98 ON THIS PROBLEM. …

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMOBILE HAVING A TICKING NOISE AFTER I START IT UP IN THE MORNING SO I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET. THE AUTO ONLY HAS 75000 MILES ON IT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR ME. THERE WAS A TSB #57-61-24A JUN98 ON THIS PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10152047

Mileage unknown · May 6, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL REGULATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDLE MOVED FROM FULL TANK TO HALF TANK DURING THE SHORT RIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT DAY A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE …

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1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL REGULATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDLE MOVED FROM FULL TANK TO HALF TANK DURING THE SHORT RIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT DAY A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR HAD FAILED. THE CONSUMER HAS THE FAULTY REGULATOR. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10121458

Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL REGULATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDLE MOVED FROM FULL TANK TO HALF TANK DURING THE SHORT RIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT DAY A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOO…

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1996 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL REGULATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER DROVE ABOUT 7 MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDLE MOVED FROM FULL TANK TO HALF TANK DURING THE SHORT RIDE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FORM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NEXT DAY A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE COULD BE SMELLED. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR HAD FAILED. *BF *NM

NHTSA ODI #10119255

119,000 miles · Feb 2, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED BELOW HAS OCCURRED ON 3 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - "DEX COOL" COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES - LOSS OF COOLANT LEADING TO ENGINE OVERHEATING OR FAILURE. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR RE…

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THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED BELOW HAS OCCURRED ON 3 PREVIOUS OCCASIONS.(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE - "DEX COOL" COOLANT LEAK FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. 2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES - LOSS OF COOLANT LEADING TO ENGINE OVERHEATING OR FAILURE. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) - GM STARTED USING "DEX-COOL" EXTENDED LIFE COOLANT IN 1996 IT DIDN'T TEST THE LONG TERM AFFECTS ON IT'S EXISTING GASKET TECHNOLOGY. ONE ARTICLE I READ STATED "IT APPEARS THAT ON SOME ENGINES, THE USE OF CONVENTIONAL PLASTIC-AND-RUBBER GASKETS IN COMBINATION WITH MORE AGGRESSIVE OAT (ORGANIC ACID TECHNOLOGY) ENGINE COOLANTS HAS CAUSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SEALING RELATED ISSUES FOR CONSUMERS AND AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE PROVIDERS", SAID FEL-PRO CHIEF ENGINEER JERRY ROSENQUIST -- PER P://WWW.THEAUTOCHANNEL.COM/NEWS/2004/10/14/252583.HTML. DEX-COOL IS AN OAT COOLANT MANUFACTURED BY TEXACO FOR GM. OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT GM INTAKE GASKET LEAKS AND IT SEEMS MORE LIKELY THAT THE COOLANT, RATHER THAN THE GASKET ITSELF, IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108449

Official recalls

1

96V122000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Jul 1, 1996

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.