DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES GRABBED AND LET GO, LIKE A PULSATION. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER CLEANED THE ROTORS. THE THIRD TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS FOR THE SECOND TIME…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES GRABBED AND LET GO, LIKE A PULSATION. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER THEY TURNED THE ROTORS. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER CLEANED THE ROTORS. THE THIRD TIME THEY TURNED THE ROTORS FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE BRAKES WORKED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE MULTIPLICITY OF TIMES THAT THE ROTORS WERE SERVICED. TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS TOLD THE CONTACT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM A LOT. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY AND OFFERED NO HELP AT THEIR EXPENSE. *AK UPDATED 11/15/2005. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10140361
Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN EVER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY WOULD CAUSE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STOPPING PROPERLY AS IT SHOULD. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10101594
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HESITATED. ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO ACTIVATE AND VEHICLE SKIDDED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. CONSUMER DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10091992
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 2004
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. THE BRAKES BECAME INOPERATIVE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10076101
100 miles · Dec 17, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT ROTORS ON THE CAR ARE DEFECTIVE. MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AT 6000 MILES WITH A COMPLAINT OF WARPED ROTORS CAUSING A VIBRATION UPON BRAKEING. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS "WERE WITHIN SPECS". I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AT 14000 MILES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THE ROTORS WERE "RESURFACED AND THE PADS WERE BUFFED". I DID N…
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FRONT ROTORS ON THE CAR ARE DEFECTIVE. MY CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AT 6000 MILES WITH A COMPLAINT OF WARPED ROTORS CAUSING A VIBRATION UPON BRAKEING. AT THAT TIME I WAS TOLD THE ROTORS "WERE WITHIN SPECS". I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AT 14000 MILES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT AND THE ROTORS WERE "RESURFACED AND THE PADS WERE BUFFED". I DID NOT RECEIVE THE CAR WITH RESURFACED ROTORS AND BUFFED PADS. THIS HAS BEEN A COMPLAINT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. I FEEL SINCE THE CAR CAME WITH A DEFECTIVE PART, THE ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW ONES. THIS COULD BE A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM IF THE BRAKES FAIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10050639
11,681 miles · Sep 5, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER LESS THAN 11,000 MILES OF TRAVEL; 2003 PONTIAC-SUNFIRE PURCHASED ON APRIL 29, 2003. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BAD BATCH OF BRAKE PARTS OR THE COMPONENT IS EITHER UNDER DESIGNED OR IMPROPERLY SPECIFIED TO WITHSTAND DAY-TO-DAY CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. A 2001 CHEVROLET-CAVALIER THAT I PREVIOUSLY OWNED EXHIB…
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BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AFTER LESS THAN 11,000 MILES OF TRAVEL; 2003 PONTIAC-SUNFIRE PURCHASED ON APRIL 29, 2003. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A BAD BATCH OF BRAKE PARTS OR THE COMPONENT IS EITHER UNDER DESIGNED OR IMPROPERLY SPECIFIED TO WITHSTAND DAY-TO-DAY CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS. A 2001 CHEVROLET-CAVALIER THAT I PREVIOUSLY OWNED EXHIBITED THE SAME INSUFFICIENCY IN IT'S BRAKE ROTORS THAT REQUIRED SERVICING THREE TIMES IN 60,000 MILES OF DRIVING. BOTH OF THESE CARS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRIMS AND GM DIVISION NAME. THE COST TO RESURFACE SALVAGABLE ROTORS IS APPROXIMATELY $140 AT THE DEALER. IF THEY CAN'T BE RESURFACED THEN THEY HAVE TO BE REPLACED ENTIRELY. LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.*AK
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR LAMPS THAT PROVIDE STOP AND TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LAMP FUNCTIONS STOP WORKING BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE CONTACT BETWEEN THE BULB AND SOCKET. IN ADDITION, IF ONE BULBS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING IN CRUISE CONTROL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE REMAINING BULB WAS ACTIVATED. IF BOTH LAMPS WERE TO BECOME INOPERATIVE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY GREASE OR REPLACE THEM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
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
EA04028 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened Sep 14, 2004 · Closed Nov 22, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
ON MAY 14, 2004 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE04-043) BASED ON CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THAT THE BRAKE/TAIL TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN EITHER THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, OR WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED.ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 ODI UPGRADED PE 04-043 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA04-028).GM STATES THAT SOME BRAKE/TAIL/TURN SIGNAL LAMP BULBS CAN PREMATURELY BECOME INOPERATIVE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILDUP WITHIN THE BULB SOCKETS.THE CAUSE OF THE EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD UP WAS DETERMINED TO BE A LACK OF THERMAL GREASE PLACED IN BETWEEN THE BULB AND THE SOCKET. BY LETTER DATED OCTOBER 27, 2004 GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 04V524) COVERING ALL MY 2003 VEHICLES.GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR LAMP BULB SOCKET ASSEMBLIES AND APPLY THERMAL GREASE TO THEM OR REPLACE THEM WITH NEW ASSEMBLIES WITH THERMAL GREASE ALREADY ATTACHED.MODEL YEAR 2004 AND NEWER VEHICLES HAVE THE THERMAL GREASE INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY. THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
PE04043 · Turn Signal Malfunction
Opened May 14, 2004 · Closed Sep 14, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal
COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT THE REAR TURN SIGNALS FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND DO NOT PROVIDE A SIGNAL TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES.ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE REPORT OF A CRASH WHERE THE COMPLAINANT BRAKED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE IMPACTED THE COMPLAINANT'S VEHICLE IN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR.IN MAY 2002, GM'S SUPPLIER MADE CHANGES TO THE BULB SOCKET THAT INCLUDED STOPPING THE USE OF THERMAL-MASTIC GREASE IN THE BULB SOCKET.GM REPORTS THAT THE GREASE REDUCES ARCING AT THE CONTACTS AND DISSIPATES HEAT THUS PREVENTING MELTING OF THE SOCKET MATERIAL OR BURNING OF THE CONTACTS.MOST OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE BULB SOCKET.IN JUNE 2003, GM DIRECTED THE SUPPLIER TO RESUME THE USE OF GREASE IN THE SOCKET.GM ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) 04-08-42-004A ON JULY 15, 2004 ADVISING TECHNICIANS TO MAKE SURE THAT ADEQUATE AMOUNTS OF GREASE WERE ADDED TO THE BULB SOCKETS ON ALL SERVICE PARTS.ODI WILL UPGRADE THIS INVESTIGATION TO EA 04-028 TO FURTHER EXAMINE THE ISSUE.
2003 Pontiac Sunfire Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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