The defect
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.
The risk
IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1996, 1997 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1996, 1997 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1996, 1997 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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 | 1996 | 85 | 4 |
| Buick Skylark | 1997 | 79 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1995 | 270 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1996 | 503 | 7 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1997 | 540 | 7 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1996 | 87 | 4 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1997 | 63 | 2 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1996 | 450 | 4 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1997 | 383 | 2 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1995 | 119 | 5 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1996 | 201 | 7 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1997 | 190 | 6 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2002
34 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 02V338000 16 Dec 2002 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 02V324000 6 Dec 2002 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V288000 6 Nov 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V284000 30 Oct 2002 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 02V267000 1 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V259000 20 Sept 2002 | PLEASURE-WAY INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 02V256000 18 Sept 2002 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 02V233000 5 Sept 2002 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002