NHTSA Campaign 04V036000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

Issued by GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · Reported Jan 27, 2004 · 1,415,231 vehicles affected

What's wrong

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.

Consequence

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED. THE FIRE COULD SPREAD TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR, WHICH COULD INJURE OCCUPANTS OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO ADJOINING STRUCTURES.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND CHECK THAT YOUR CAR WILL START WITH A PROPERLY CHARGED BATTERY AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 1, 2004. 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 1-800-630-2438, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CHECK THEIR VEHICLE ONLINE BY GOING TO WWW.MYGMLINK.COM AND ENTERING THE VEHICLE'S IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
BUICK SKYLARK 1998 1,415,231
CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1998 1,415,231
CHEVROLET CAVALIER 1999 1,415,231
CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2000 1,415,231
CHEVROLET CAVALIER 2001 1,415,231
OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA 1998 1,415,231
PONTIAC GRAND AM 1998 1,415,231
PONTIAC SUNFIRE 1998 1,415,231
PONTIAC SUNFIRE 1999 1,415,231
PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2000 1,415,231
PONTIAC SUNFIRE 2001 1,415,231

Source: NHTSA Campaign 04V036000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.