STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND WHEN KEY WAS PUT IN STARTER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND I COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WHEN I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE CAR DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL ON WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS HALF WAY OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD IT FIXED, THE MECHANIC TOLD…
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STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND WHEN KEY WAS PUT IN STARTER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND I COULD NOT GET KEY OUT OF IGNITION. WHEN I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE CAR DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE TWO PINS THAT HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL ON WAS MISSING, AND THE OTHER ONE WAS HALF WAY OUT. IF I HADN'T HAD IT FIXED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF WHILE DRIVING!! WHEN I HAD DRIVEN IT THE NIGHT BEFORE, IT WAS FINE. I CALLED GMAC YESTERDAY, AND THEY CHECKED INTO IT AND DECIDED THAT SINCE IT WAS A 1998 VEHICLE AND HAD 120,000 MILES ON IT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES OF $372.96 THAT IT COST TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANICAL DEFECT, THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR KILLED SOMEONE IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND THE STEERING WHEEL FELL OFF!
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1998 Oldsmobile Achieva Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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