CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000 FOR IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONE EVENING. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REMEDY. DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION CYLINDER AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER BELIEVESPROBLEM WAS WITH SWITCH, BUT DEALER WOULD NOT INSTALL…
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CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02V070000 FOR IGNITION SWITCH. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START ONE EVENING. CONSUMER TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR RECALL REMEDY. DEALER STATED THAT IGNITION CYLINDER AND BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND PROBLEM WAS NOT WITH IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER BELIEVESPROBLEM WAS WITH SWITCH, BUT DEALER WOULD NOT INSTALL RELAY TO CORRECT RECALL FIRST. DEALER WAS REQUESTING PAYMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF CYLINDER AND BATTERY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033791
87,000 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR A "CLICKING" SOUND OCCURRED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND ALL WAS WELL FOR A WEEK. THEN, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAUGES FLASHED BACK AND FORTH ,AND THE CAR STOPPED. WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS WAS SET FOR SEVERAL…
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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR A "CLICKING" SOUND OCCURRED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, AND ALL WAS WELL FOR A WEEK. THEN, THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE GAUGES FLASHED BACK AND FORTH ,AND THE CAR STOPPED. WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS WAS SET FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. WHEN IT STARTED THE SAME INCIDENTS REPEATED. WARNING LIGHTS WOULD OFTEN COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT THERE BEING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM THAT THE LIGHTS WERE INDICATING. ONCE THE CAR WAS PULLED TO A STOPPING LOCATION IT WOULD NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF , AND THE KEY WOULD GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THESE PROBLEMS PERSISTED FOR 2 DAYS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10028605
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2003
Electrical System
WHEN SHUTTING OFF THE CAR, THE KEY BECOMES STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES AND SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO GET IT OUT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10010888
Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 2002
Electrical System
THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS PAID OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE BEING A RECALL EVEN DO I WAS NEVER CONTACT AND THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHSED BRAND NEW. I SPEND APRROX $300.00 BETWEEN TOWING FEES AND MECHANICAL REPAIR. I NEED TO GET REFUNDED THIS MONEY. OTHERWISE, I WILL CONTACT THE BBB AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS. DT
NHTSA ODI #770630
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STARTER AND HAS HAD THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOP FOR A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE STATERTED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH SO THERE FOR THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. MR
NHTSA ODI #8022788
60,746 miles · Oct 22, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
IGNITION FIRE--INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION SLOT AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE SMELL OF INSULATION & SOMETHING LIKE GUNPOWDER--THE CAR'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM WAS AFFECTED---RECENTLY WATCHED TV & HEARD THAT PONTIAC RECALLS GRAND AM '97 BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS W/ IGNITION SWITCH AND RELATED FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND BECAUSE OF …
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IGNITION FIRE--INSERTED KEY INTO IGNITION SLOT AND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE SMELL OF INSULATION & SOMETHING LIKE GUNPOWDER--THE CAR'S ELECTRIC SYSTEM WAS AFFECTED---RECENTLY WATCHED TV & HEARD THAT PONTIAC RECALLS GRAND AM '97 BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS W/ IGNITION SWITCH AND RELATED FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND BECAUSE OF THE RECALL EXPECTS REIMBURSEMENT IN FULL. *JG
NHTSA ODI #566342
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2002
Electrical SystemFire
IN AUGUST 2002, WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM PONTIAC SAYING THE IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS ON OUR PONTIAC WAS A PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE SPEARKS OR A FIRE AND WE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WYATT-JOHNSON, OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY--OR AT LEA…
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IN AUGUST 2002, WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM PONTIAC SAYING THE IGNITION CIRCUIT THERMAL EVENTS ON OUR PONTIAC WAS A PROBLEM WHICH COULD CAUSE SPEARKS OR A FIRE AND WE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL DEALER. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO WYATT-JOHNSON, OUR LOCAL DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY--OR AT LEAST THAT IS THE PART THAT THEY SAID WERE COVERED BY THE RECALL. JUST PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR THE RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS, MY WIFE NOTICED THAT WHEN SHE STOPPED AT A LOCAL STORE, THE IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND SHE SAW SPARKS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. WE HOPED THAT THE RECALL REPAIRS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE THE MECHANIC AT WYATT-JOHNSON SAID IT SHOULD. HOWEVER, AFTER THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE MADE, MY WIFE AGAIN EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE IGNITION--IT WOULDN'T STOP RUNNING AFTER STOPPING--AND SHE COULDN'T SEEM TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. AND, AGAIN SHE SAW SPARKS FROM THE IGNITION. MY WIFE TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE DEALER--OUR LOCAL NAPA GARAGE AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE NAPA MECHANIC SHOWED MY WIFE A PONTIAC TENICAL BULLETIN WHICH CLEARLY STATES THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL AND ACCORDING TO THE NAPA MECHANIC, THE GMAC DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE PART. HE SAID THE RECALL NOTICE NUMBER WAS 97038. WE AGAIN CONTACTED WYATT-JOHNSON AND THEY AGAIN SAID THAT THEY HAD MADE THE RECALL REPAIRS AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY REFUSED TO EXAM THE AUTOMOBILE AGAIN WITHOUT CHARGING FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EXAM OF THE VEHCILE. THE NAPA MECHANIC SAID IT WILL COST ABOUT $400 TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO THE CAR. YESTERDAY, I CONTACTED A PONTIC REPRESENTATIVE AT THE TOLL FREE NUMBER (800) 762-2737 AND THEY GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER 1-38785208. THE LADY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC SCREENING AND IF THEY FIND A PROBLEM. MR
NHTSA ODI #768221
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT DONE,BUT ON GMC DATABASE STATES THAT IT WAS DONE.WHEN THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED OF THIS THE DEALER REPLIED THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CHARGED FOR RECALL REPAIR. *AK *YH
NHTSA ODI #8019548
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2002
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE HAVING VEHICLE SERVICE BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WAS INFORMED THAT RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT DONE, BUT IS STATED AS BEING DONE IN GMC DATE SYSTEM,BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. WHEN OTHER DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED,THEIR REPLY WAS FOR THE CONSUMER TO PAY TO HAVE RECALL DONE.
NHTSA ODI #8019545
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2002
Electrical System
WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND DIM SPORADICALLY. CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED, PRESENTING IT INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWI…
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WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND DIM SPORADICALLY. CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED, PRESENTING IT INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS TO NEUTRAL. SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY AND REPAIRED BECAUSE THE GM FACILITY WAS CLOSED. THE REPAIR SPECIALIST INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM TRACED BACK TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF AN ALTERNATOR AND A BATTERY RECHARGE. PONTIAC WAS CONTACTED SHORTLY (REQUEST C20753090) AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALL RELATING TO THE INCIDENT. IN APRIL 2002, GM SENT CONSUMER A RECALL LETTER (02V07) REGARDING FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIR, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR CAUSED BY THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER EXPECTS GM TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE COST. *JG
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002. 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 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
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
2
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.
RQ98013 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployments
Opened Aug 26, 1998 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ON JUNE 26, 1998, GENERAL MOTORS BEGAIN A SAFETY RECALL, 98V-146, TO RECALIBRATE THE AIR BAG SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) IN THE 1996 AND SOME 1997 J BODY CARS, CAVALIER AND SUNFIRE.DUE TO CERTAIN CALIBRATIONS IN THE AIR BAG SDM, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT IN A LOW SPEED CRASH OR WHEN AN OBJECT STRIKES THE FLOOR PAN.THE RECALL POPULATION CONSISTS OF 675,302 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 1995 THROUGH MAY 1997.ODI HAS RECEIVED 8 OWNER REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITHOUT A CRASH.THE PURPOSER OF THE RQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER GM SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE VEHICLES.CLOSING RESUME NOTE:AS OF AUGUST 5, 1999, ODI RECEIVED ONE ADDITIONAL COMPLAINT REGARDING THE ALLEGED DEFECT.THE INCIDENT RATES FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ABOUT ONE-THRID OF THE RATES OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES (WHEN THE RECALL WAS INITIATED).BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION, A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOSE NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY FUTURE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1997 Pontiac Grand Am Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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