1995 Pontiac Bonneville

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY, BUT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE CONTACT INJURED HER LEFT HAND. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK FROM GMC WITHIN 48 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 133,060.

TAIL LIGHTS, BACKUP LIGHTS, FOG LIGHTS, AND DASH LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THE FAULT WA S THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE WHICH HAD A RECALL ISSUED. PONTIAC WAS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL 94V190000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT FAILURE. THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH LIGHTING CONTROL MODULES WHICH CAN EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE CURRENT LEAKAGE DUE TO DAMAGED SURFACE MOUNTING CAPACITORS. THIS CAN CAUSE LOSS OF HEAD LAMPS AND PARKING LAMPS. CONSEQUENCE: SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLAMPS CAN CAUSE REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE HEAD LAMPS CANNOT BE TURNED OFF, OR THEY MAY TURN ON WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BATTERY CHARGE AND INABILITY TO RESTART THE CAR. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP MODULE. NOTES: SYSTEM: LIGHTING; HEAD LIGHTS. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TWILIGHT SENTINEL LIGHTS. NOTE: IF YOUR VEHICLE IS PRESENTED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND THE REMEDY IS NOT PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME OR THE REMEDY DOES NOT CORRECT THE DEFECT, PLEASE CONTACT PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537. ALSO, CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393. *AK

SUMMARY: FAILURE OF 3 TIRES ON VEHICLE. I PURCHASED A SECOND SET OF TIRES, YOKOHAMA, FOR MY 1995 BONNEVILLE AFTER HAVING THE ORIGINAL SET FOR SOME TIME. SOON THEREAFTER, TWO TIRES FAILED. THE STEEL BELTS HAD SEPARATED ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS OR SO LATER, THE THIRD TIRE FAILED. THIS FAILURE, UNLIKE THE FIRST TWO, CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED I NOT REPLACE THIS ONE UNDER WARRANTY, DUE TO THE DAMAGE, & THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. UPON DOING SO, INCLUDING A RECOUNT OF MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE,TIRES, AND THE PREVIOUS FAILURES, THE MANUFACTURER INSISTED THE FAILURES WERE MY FAULT. ONE FAILURE OK, TWO, SOMETHINGS NOT RIGHT. THREE FAILURES FROM THE SAME SET OF TIRES MAKE ME THINK THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AT DAWN ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE HEAD LIGHTS SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNAL TO INDICATE A DEFECT. WHEN DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AT NIGHT, THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED TO TURN OFF AGAIN. THE LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE OVERHEATED SO THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, BUT BEFORE DOING SO THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF TWENTY MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND INDICATED THAT THE VIN # WAS NOT AFFECTED IN THE RECALL # 94V190000 AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSIS.