1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE Complaints

THE RACK AND PINION STEERING HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. STEERING SUDDENLY BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN TO THE LEFT (AS IF NO POWER STEERING AT ALL). IF YOU ARE TURNING TO THE RIGHT YOU CAN EASILY TURN THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER, LEFT HAND TURNS ARE IMPOSSIBLE. THE DEALERSHIP MAKING THE REPAIR AGREED TO PAY 1/2 OF THE COST BECAUSE THEY AGREED THE PART WAS FAULTY AND NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME LET ALONE TWICE. GM, HOWEVER, REFUSED TO PAY FOR EITHER OF THE REPAIRS AND WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIRS . *NLM

I HAD A SIDEWALL BLOW OUT WITH A THREE WEEK OLD DUNLOP TIRE WHILE MERGING ON TO AN ON RAMP AT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE TIRE LOST PRESSURE IMMEDIATELY AND CAUSED TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE WEATHER WAS ONLY AND 30 DEGREES, AND I OPENLY HAD MYSELF AND EMPTY TRUNK CAR. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR DEALER AND INSTALLED WITH A SET OF EQUALLY SIZED FOUR TIRES. CORPORATE AND RETAIL GOODYEAR PEOPLE WILL ONLY REPLACE THE TIRE IF THEY CAN BE PROVED THAT IT WAS DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE TIRE, NOT WITH INSTALLATION OR ANY OTHER CHARATERISITICS. THE PREVOIUS TIRE ON THAT RIM WAS A GOODYEAR TIRE THAT LASTED 45000 MILES WITHOUT INCIDENT, SO RIM DAMAGE APPEAR TO BE NOT LIKELY.

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON 1998 INTRIGUE WITH 57000 MILES. MY MECHANIC AND HIS PARTNER ARE SCHEDULED TO FIX THREE OF THESE NEXT WEEK. MY INQUIRIES HAVE LEAD ME TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMON PROBLEM CAUSED BY A POOR DESIGN

ENGINE REPEATEDLY MIS-FIRES. PROBLEM MORE COMMON DURING COLD OR DAMP WEATHER, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THESE CONDITIONS. MULTIPLE PARTS REPLACED BEFORE RESOLVING PROBLEM BY REPLACING FUEL INJECTOR FOR CYLINDER #3. PROBLEM CORRESPONDED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY (WITHIN 10 DAYS OF) THE FAILURE OF IGNITION SWITCH, AND DEALER SPECULATED BOTH PROBLEMS RELATED.

DEALER INDICATES VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE OIL LEAKS, WHICH ARE PREMATURE FOR VEHICLE MILEAGE, AND ARE RESULT OF "FAILED GASKETS." DEALER REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET, RESOLVING PROBLEM.

ABS INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALER STATES ABS MOTOR PACK (FP PART # 18024482) FAILED. DEALER INDICATES THIS IS "COMMON PROBLEM" FOR THIS VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED SAME.

VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING REGULAR ENGINE FAILURES WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENGINE ENTIRELY SHUTTING DOWN. OCCURS DURING VARIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS, INCLUDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. FAILURE RESULTS IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND OVERALL ABILITY TO SAFELY CONTROL VEHICLE. DEALER STATES GM INDICATES PROBLEM IS RESULT OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH.

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN STEERING TO THE LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL GETS TIGHT CAUSING DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. DEALER NOTIFIED SAID RACK AND PINION GONE BAD. TS

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WAS STOLEN AND BY GOING BY THE POLICE REPORT VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 45-50 MPH IN RESULT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

CONSUMER STATE RESULTING IN HITTING A PARKED VEHICLE AT 25 MPH VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH