1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE MAKING A RIGHT TURN 30 MPH WHEN ALL WHEEL LUG BOLTS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND WHEEL CAME OFF. WHEEL GOT STUCK UNDER CAR. NO STEERING AND BRAKING WAS LIMITED. CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF THE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR WAS STOPPED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO DISK BRAKE, LARGE DE…
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1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE MAKING A RIGHT TURN 30 MPH WHEN ALL WHEEL LUG BOLTS BROKE ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND WHEEL CAME OFF. WHEEL GOT STUCK UNDER CAR. NO STEERING AND BRAKING WAS LIMITED. CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD. WITH THE HELP OF THE REAR EMERGENCY BRAKE THE CAR WAS STOPPED. FORTUNATELY NO INJURIES. DAMAGE TO DISK BRAKE, LARGE DENT IN FENDER AND BUMPER. NHTSA RECALL 97V219000 INDICATES SIMILAR PROBLEM FOR 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. WHEEL HOLES WERE PERFECTLY ROUND INDICATING THE WHEEL NUTS WERE NOT LOOSE. CAR FRONT WHEELS HAD BEEN SERVICED 6 MONTHS EARLIER FOR NEW BRAKES. WHEN I CALLED PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737 THEY INDICATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS CAR INVOLVING WHEEL LUG BOLTS AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10157090
Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2003
WheelsCrash
THE DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LOCK UP CAUSING A ACCIDENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
NHTSA ODI #10006264
Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2002
Wheels
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEELS STUDS ARE SO FLIMSY,THAT THEY BREAK VERY EASILY WHEN BEING TIGHTEN. HAD 6 STUDS REPLACED. NLM
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.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. 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, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
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