The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE STARTER FAILS TO ENGAGE AND THE DRIVER HOLD THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, PRODUCING HEAT THAT CAN MELT SWITCH PARTS.
The risk
A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT AND VERIFY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION (ADEQUATE RESERVE CAPACITY, OR COLD CRANKING AMPS). THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT COVER BATTERY REPLACEMENT OR UNRELATED STARTING SYSTEM OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIRS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1994, 1995 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1994, 1995 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1994, 1995 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1994 | 68 | 2 |
| Buick Skylark | 1995 | 85 | 1 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1994 | 62 | 2 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1995 | 70 | 1 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1994 | 377 | 2 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1995 | 409 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2000
24 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 00V416000 12 Dec 2000 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 00V411000 6 Dec 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V410000 5 Dec 2000 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 00V374000 13 Nov 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V373000 13 Nov 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V259002 8 Nov 2000 | HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO |
| 00V351000 30 Oct 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V339000 24 Oct 2000 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000