NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
155 reportsMileage unknown · Aug 5, 1999
Electrical System
VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY HAS 100,000 MILE SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED, BUT SPARK PLUG CABLES FAILED BELOW 60,000 MILES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE HOW I HAD THEM ROUTED, AND I HAD NEVER MOVED OR TOUCHED THEM SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I WAS REALLY UPSET WITH THEIR EXPLANATION, OR "EXCUSE". AND TO HAVE AN ALT…
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VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY HAS 100,000 MILE SPARK PLUGS INSTALLED, BUT SPARK PLUG CABLES FAILED BELOW 60,000 MILES. CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE HOW I HAD THEM ROUTED, AND I HAD NEVER MOVED OR TOUCHED THEM SINCE I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I WAS REALLY UPSET WITH THEIR EXPLANATION, OR "EXCUSE". AND TO HAVE AN ALTERNATOR GO BAD AT 76,000 MILES, I DON'T THINK SO.
NHTSA ODI #709653
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
ACCELERATOR CABLE HAS BROKEN TWICE, AT 33,000 MILES AND AT 49,000 MILES, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #844017
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL INJECTORS KEPT BLOWING OUT. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF FUEL INJECTORS. HAD BARELY LEFT THE SHOP WHEN THEY BLEW OUT AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR. WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT GM PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #843675
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or Other
SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ON /ROUGH IDLE AT START/ALOT HARD TO START, AND BRAKES WON'T HOLD IN WET CONDITONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708104
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other
BOUGHT CAR JULY 12, 1996, JULY 29, 1996 BROKE DOWN DUE TO #6 INJECTOR STAYING OPEN. REPLACED.SEPT 9, 1996, FOUND IMPROPER LEAK DOWN RATE ON FUEL INJECTORS.INSTALLED FUEL INJECTORS.34,610 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, FOUND #3&5 CYLINDERS MISFIRING. THEY PUT INJECTOR CLEANER IN.40,323 MILES #1,#3 & #5 CYLINDERS SPARK PLUGS & WIRES…
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BOUGHT CAR JULY 12, 1996, JULY 29, 1996 BROKE DOWN DUE TO #6 INJECTOR STAYING OPEN. REPLACED.SEPT 9, 1996, FOUND IMPROPER LEAK DOWN RATE ON FUEL INJECTORS.INSTALLED FUEL INJECTORS.34,610 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, FOUND #3&5 CYLINDERS MISFIRING. THEY PUT INJECTOR CLEANER IN.40,323 MILES #1,#3 & #5 CYLINDERS SPARK PLUGS & WIRES BURNED.43,000 MILES #2 CYLINDER SPARK PLUGS & WIRES BURNED.THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT WHY DO THEY KEEP BURNING OUT. HAVE 2 MORE TO BURN. CALLED CHEVY, THEY SAID THE SAME WIRES HAVE TO BURN TWICE.I SAW MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ON NHTSA WEBSITE. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR A RECALL. PEOPLE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR SAME PROBLEM.WHY DIDN'T THEY CHANGE ALL SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES TO ALL CYLINDERS. HAVE TO KEEP GOING BACK. $108.05 FOR EACH CYLINDER.NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM ON ANY OTHER CAR. FROM DAY 1, CAR HAS STARTED HARD, NOBODY CAN FIGURE OUT WHY.THIS CAR IS NOT YET 3 YEARS OLD, I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP IT LONGER, BUT NOT WITH THIS HAPPENING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708045
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 1999
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705755
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION AT LEAST 10 TIMES, FINALLY FAILED COMPLETELT AND WAS REPAIRED. ENGINE LIGHT ON AT LEAST 15 TIMES, REPLACED INJECTORS, PLUGS, WIRES, O-RINGS, ENGINE GASKET, CAR STILL NOT FIXED.
NHTSA ODI #705441
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1999
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING THE CAR NOT TO HOLD A TUNE-UP. AT 38,839 MILES, #3 SPARK PLUG WAS REPLACED - OIL LEAKING PAST PCV VALVE, THE PCV VALVE WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTER #1 AND #2 SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #704897
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 1999
Electrical System
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #703298
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS CAME ON 5 TIMES. 2 TIMES THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2 TIMES THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS SPARK PLUGS, AND 2 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CAR. THE GAS GUAGE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO REGISTER HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE CAR. VEHICLE HAS SPUTTERED …
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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS CAME ON 5 TIMES. 2 TIMES THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2 TIMES THEY HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS SPARK PLUGS, AND 2 FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE CAR. THE GAS GUAGE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO REGISTER HOW MUCH GAS WAS IN THE CAR. VEHICLE HAS SPUTTERED WHEN FIRST STARTED AND WHEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD. THE DEALER HAS FIXED THESE PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM UNIT IN THE CAR HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE SPUTTERING AND IDLING PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOW EXPERIENCING HARD STARTS WHEN THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED FOR ABOUT 5-6 SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WILL CRANK. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED WHEN ROADS ARE WET AN D BRAKE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR FOR THE CAR TO STOP. ON THE OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS SPUTTERING, THE CODE PO300 APPEARED THE 5 TIMES THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS. NUMEROUS SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED POSSIBLY DUE TO SPUTTERING OF VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703089
NHTSA investigations
5EA03019 · 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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