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 FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1998 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1998 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1998 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
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 | 1998 | 24 | 1 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1998 | 345 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 1999 | 240 | 2 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 2000 | 315 | 2 |
| Chevrolet Cavalier | 2001 | 243 | 1 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1998 | 40 | 1 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1998 | 172 | 1 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1998 | 120 | 3 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 1999 | 93 | 2 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 2000 | 96 | 1 |
| Pontiac Sunfire | 2001 | 66 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2004
36 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 04V580000 10 Dec 2004 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 04V568000 9 Dec 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V578000 8 Dec 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V577000 7 Dec 2004 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 04V549000 23 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V513000 28 Oct 2004 | FOUR WINDS INTERNATIONAL |
| 04V512000 20 Oct 2004 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V491000 15 Oct 2004 | MEDTEC AMBULANCE CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004