1998 AM GENERAL HUMMER Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.

121,680 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH PLASTIC CANCELLATION PIN CAN WEAR PREMATURELY CAUSING THE SIGNALS TO FAIL TO CANCEL AFTER COMPLETING A TURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH WITH A NEW SWITCH HAVING A METAL CANCELLATION PIN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 16, 2001. 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 AM GENERAL AT 1-800-638-8303.

2,839 vehicles affected

I HAVE A HUMMER H1 (1998). ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT IN TRAFFIC, MY #8 ENGINE CYLINDER WALL CRACKED CAUSING ME TO LOSE ALL MY COOLENT FOR BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. IF I HAD NOT NOTICED IT AS QUICKLY HAS I HAD, I WOULD HAVE COME TO A SCREECHING HALT IN THE FREEWAY TRAFFIC AS MY ENGINE MELTED DOWN. FURTHERMORE, I USE MY HUMMER FOR OFF-ROADING AND HAD IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS OFF-ROAD IN THE UTAH DESERT, INJURY OR DEATH WOULD HAVE BEEN QUITE LIKELY (SINCE I AM OFTEN 20-40 MILES OFF THE HIGHWAY AND IT GETS TO BE 110 DEGREES F EASILY). I HAVE CHECKED AROUND AND APPROXIMATELY 10% OF THE VEHICLES FROM 1997, 1998, AND PART OF 1999 AND 2000 HAVE HAD THE #8 CYLINDAR CRACK. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER USED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS BUT ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO STOPPED COVERING THIS UNDER WARRANTEE OR EVEN GOOD-WILL. A TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE CAN BE A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THE TRAFFIC IS HEAVY OR IF THE OCCUPENTS ARE NOT NEAR A TOWN. (OFTEN WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH NEVADA ON SOME VERY LONELY HIGHWAYS, I AM 3 HOURS FROM THE CLOSEST TOWN AND THE HEAT IS IMMENESE). WHEN I AM OFF-ROAD THIS IS EVEN WORSE AND I MAY BE A DAY OR TWO HIKE FROM THE NEAREST (LONELY) HIGHWAY IN 110 DEGREE HEAT. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS IT IS A VERY FREQUENT PROBLEM FOR THE AFFECTED YEARS. THANK YOU.

1998 HUMMER DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY BEGAN OSCILLATING WILDLY AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *NM

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT STEERING PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE VEHICLE SHOOT SO VIOLENTLY IT CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT BY RUNNING OFF THE ROAD. *TT