The defect
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE HAZARD WARNING SWITCHES THAT MAY EXPERIENCE SOLDER JOINT CRACKING CAUSED BY RAPID TEMPERATURE TRANSITIONS AND THE SOLDERING PROCESS. IF SOLDER JOINT CRACKING OCCURS AND RESULTS IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT, THE TURN SIGNALS/HAZARD LAMPS BECOME INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE.
The risk
WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS ARE INOPERATIVE, THE DRIVER CANNOT USE THEM TO SIGNAL INTENT TO TURN THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2000, 2001 |
| Oldsmobile Alero | 2000, 2001 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 2000, 2001 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS: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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2000 | 922 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2001 | 721 | 2 |
| Oldsmobile Alero | 2000 | 557 | 4 |
| Oldsmobile Alero | 2001 | 364 | 4 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 2000 | 675 | 5 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 2001 | 538 | 4 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2003
18 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the exterior lighting; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 03V509000 4 Dec 2003 | JAGUAR CARS LTD |
| 03V485000 25 Nov 2003 | BENSON INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
| 03V388000 10 Oct 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V265000 25 Jul 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V262000 22 Jul 2003 | HACKNEY |
| 03V258000 22 Jul 2003 | INDIAN MOTORCYCLE COMPANY |
| 03V217000 10 Jun 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V206000 5 Jun 2003 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003