The defect
THE PROTECTIVE COVER FOR THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER WAS OMITTED. WITHOUT THIS COVER, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT ON THE FUSE BLOCK IS EXPOSED AND CAN CONTACT THE INSULATED NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. IF THE INSULATION ON THE NEGATIVE CABLE BECOMES SUFFICIENTLY WORN, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR BETWEEN THE POSITIVE TERMINAL AND NEGATIVE CABLE RESULTING IN EXTREMELY HIGH CURRENT FLOW.
The risk
THIS HIGH CURRENT FLOW CAN CAUSE ARCING AND RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE PROTECTIVE COVER AND, IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER TO THE UNDERHOOD FUSE CENTER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1997 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1997 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1997 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
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 | 1997 | 79 | 3 |
| Oldsmobile Achieva | 1997 | 63 | 2 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1997 | 383 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1997
22 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 97V237000 31 Dec 1997 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 97V230000 15 Dec 1997 | YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA |
| 97V208001 25 Nov 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V208002 25 Nov 1997 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 97V215000 24 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V213000 20 Nov 1997 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 97V184001 29 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V184002 28 Oct 1997 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997