SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE

Feb 11, 1997 — Recall Campaign #97V017000

SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.

The recall was influenced by the Office of Defects Investigation with about 349,331 units affected.

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

97V017000

Manufacturer:	General Motors, LLC
Recall date:	February 11, 1997
NHTSA Campaign #:	97V017000
Units affected:	349,331

Description:: SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A STRAINED OR SEPARATED WASHER/WIPER SWITCH POWER FEED WIRE.
Consequeces:: THIS CAN CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR IN A SEVERE WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Corrective action:: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE OLD DESIGNED WASHER/WIPER SWITCHES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Notes:: OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 1997. NOTES: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 1-800-222-1020, BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

Affects the following:

1995 BUICK REGAL Complaints
1) CAR SHUTS OFF WHILE IN MOTION 2) CAR REFUSES TO START / DOES NOT RECOGNIZE KEY & SIGNALS "ANTI-THEFT" I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. TRAFFIC SLOWED AHEAD FOR A RED LIGHT. APPROACHING THE STOPPED CARS AHEAD I SLOWED MY CAR DOWN TO APPX. 15MPH. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I HIT THE GAS TO CONTINUE AND WHEN NOTHING HAPPENED I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THE POWER STEERING WAS STIFF AND I HAD JUST ENOUGH SPEED LEFT TO MOVE ACROSS TWO LANES IN TO A STORE PARKING LOT. THE CAR SHUTOFF MULTIPLE TIMES AFTER THAT, BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR. THE MECHANIC THINKS THAT MY CAR IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY & THAT I NEED A NEW KEY BECAUSE THEIR TESTS ARE SIGNALING THAT THE CAR WILL NOT CRANK DUE TO AN "ANTI-THEFT" ISSUE. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT HAS BEEN THE ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS & I AM LUCKY NOT TO HAVE WRECKED MY CAR THAT DAY. OVERALL, I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES, SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS, AND HAD MY CAR TOWED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. *TR;
1995 CHEVROLET LUMINA Complaints
LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 1995 CHEVY LUMINA AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED INJURIES. *JB;
1995 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE WERE FAILING. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $250. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V230000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN; THEREFORE, NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000.;
1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS Complaints
IN SEPT. 2013, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND LINE WITH THE DRIVEWORKS BRAND FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. ON 3/2/14, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND WE SMELLED GAS. THE SNAP ON CONNECTION HAD POPPED LOOSE AT THE GAS TANK AND WAS SPEWING GASOLINE WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR. ON 3/6/14, THE LINE POPPED LOOSE AGAIN WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR. I PUSHED IT BACK ON AND WENT ON MY WAY. LATER THAT DAY AS I WAS GOING TO RETURN HOME, THE LINE POPPED LOOSE AGAIN, AND AGAIN AT THE STOP SIGN, AND AGAIN AS I TRIED TO BACK UP TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD; A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES UNTIL IT WOULD NOT EVEN STAY ON WHILE TRYING TO START THE CAR; EACH TIME SPEWING GASOLINE. HAD TO BUY A REPLACEMENT FUEL LINE (AGAIN DRIVEWORKS BRAND) AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. NOW I AM FEELING LEERY OF THIS BRAND OF LINE AND CONNECTOR, SO WENT TO AUTO PARTS AND BOUGHT DORMAN BRAND CONNECTOR INSERTS IN CASE THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, AND THE EMPLOYEE AT THE PARTS STORE SAID THAT THESE PARTS DO NOT LAST AND WEAR OUT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS AS WHEN THE LINE COMES LOOSE, GAS SPEWS, THE CAR DIES, AND YOU LOOSE POWER STEERING, ETC. ALL WHILE ON THE ROAD. I WAS GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED, AND THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. *TR;
1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX Complaints
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. SHE WAS INFORMED BY AN AUTO PARTS STORE THAT THE NECESSARY PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS INCORRECT AND INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V017000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE THE PART FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PART. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V306000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 120,000. UPDATED 12/15/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB;