THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT

Apr 28, 1986 — Recall Campaign #86V056000

THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 93,317 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

86V056000

Manufacturer:	General Motors, LLC
Recall date:	April 28, 1986
NHTSA Campaign #:	86V056000
Units affected:	93,317

Description:: THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
Consequeces:
Corrective action:: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
Notes:: SYSTEM: HEADLIGHT SWITCH. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS AND VANS.

Affects the following:

1986 BUICK ESTATE Complaints
CURRENTLY OWN 1986 BUICK ESTATE EQUIPPED WITH "POWER MASTER" BRAKE UNIT. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL FACTORY BRAKE UNIT FOR THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE PRESSURE SWITCH DEVELOPED A CRACK, ALLOWING THE BRAKE FLUID TO BE PUMPED OUT. MY FATHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME, AND MANAGED TO GET THE CAR STOPPED AND OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT CRASHING. NEVERTHELESS, THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH DIFFERENT. WHAT'S MORE, I KNOW NOW THAT GM HAS LONG BEEN AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. SINCE THIS OCCURED, I HAVE LEARNED THAT GM WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART (PRESSURE SWICTH) AS WELL AS FOR THE DIVIDER VALVE. UPON CONTACTING THE LOCAL GM DEALER (DALLAS AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, JACKSON, OH.) I WAS INFORMADE THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL. IN FACT, I WAS TOLD THAT IT ONLY APPLIED TO 2 VIN! FINDING IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT FOR ONLY 2 VEHICLES, I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. I TALKED WITH GREG MARTIN, CUSTOMER RELATIONS MANAGER, AND WAS INFRMAED THAT MY BUICK'S VIN WAS NOT AMONG THOSE COVERED. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE GM SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS BRAKE PROBLEM, ALL PRESSURE SWITCHES THAT ARE BLACK IN COLOR ARE TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE "O' RING SEAL. IT FURTHER STATES THAT AFTER REPLACING THIS PART WITH THE GRAY REPLACEMENT PART, SERVICE PERSONELL SHOULD CHECK THE DIVIDER VALVE . IF IT IS CAST IRON, IT IS TO BE REPLACED WITH A BRASS VALVE. IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, THEY MAINTAIN THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. FURTHER, THEY CLAIM THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EFFECTED EVEN THOUGH THE PART FAILED, AND DID SO IN THE EXACT MANNER DESCRIBED IN THE SERVICE BULLETIN. I BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE SIMPLY NOT HONORING THE RECALL BECAUSE I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND DON'T HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE. THEY ARE MERELY THUMBING THEIR CORPORATE NOSES AT THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED IN TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES.*AK;
1986 CADILLAC CIMARRON Complaints
DRIVER SEAT BROKE NOT SECURED TO CAR FLIPS BACK MAJOR SAFTY HAZARD MAY FALL INTO BACK SEAT WHEN ACCELERATING.;
1986 CADILLAC DEVILLE Complaints
1986 CADILLAC DEVILLE/FLEETWOOD ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT ENFORCEMENT OF SAME INSPECTION, TESTING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED BRAKING PARTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS DID NOT PERFORM IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS FLAWED. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT AFFECTED THE ABS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE PUMP HARNESS AT NO COST TO HIM. RECALL 87V093000 *JB;
1986 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD Complaints
MY VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I CHANGE IT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND WHEN I PRESS ON MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT FEELS LIKE IS STILL ACCELERATING AND WANTS TO GO FASTER. I HAD TWO ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS REASON. NOW MY TRANSMISSION IS NOT CHANGING GEAR ANYMORE AND THIS VEHICLE IS AT THE MECHANIC FOR THIS REASON. I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM BUT IT WAS FIXED BY MY MECHANIC. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE SEAT BELTS DRIVER SIDE AND FRONT PASSENGER. *TR;
1986 CHEVROLET CAMARO Complaints
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 CHEVROLET CAMARO WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 1992. SHE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN 1994 REGARDING THE SEAT BELTS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 90V105000: SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY) BUT DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME. WHILE UTILIZING THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, THE LOCKING MECHANISM BECAME DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT BELT HOUSING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS LISTED UNDER HER VIN AND THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE ALREADY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER HAD THE REPAIRS MADE TO THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 99,960. UPDATED 5/6/10 *CN UPDATED 06/18/10.*JB;