ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE MAY BE INSTALLED OR FORCED OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION.
Safety risk
IF THE CABLE IS OUT OF THE PROPER POSITION, IT COULD INCREASE THE FORCE REQUIRED TO ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE AND A PERSON TRAPPED IN THE TRUNK MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELEASE THE TRUNK LATCH USING THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL SECURE THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE CABLE TO ENSURE THAT THE EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE HANDLE OPERATES PROPERLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. 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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 104, "WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEMS." THESE VEHICLES HAVE A WIPER SYSTEM MICROPROCESSOR THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO VOLTAGE TRANSIENTS, WHICH CAN CAUSE A "LATCH-UP" CONDITION IN THE SYSTEM CONTROLLER.
Safety risk
IF MICROPROCESSOR "LATCH-UP" OCCURS, THE CUSTOMER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM IN BOTH THE LOWER AND HIGH-SPEED MODES REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER WHICH CONTAINS THE MICROPROCESSOR.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
8
30,000 mi
Engine
7
135,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
5
55,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline
4
165,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
3
27,990 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
3
35,769 mi
Steering
3
110,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer
3
—
Air bags: frontal
2
27,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
2
—
Steering: rack and pinion
2
51,939 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
2
—
Air bags
1
—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
1
—
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
1
—
Electrical system: horn
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
64,400 mi
Exterior lighting
1
40,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights
1
86,743 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
1
47,979 mi
Fuel system, other: fuel injection system
1
47,979 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system
1
86,743 mi
Power train
1
—
Power train: manual transmission
1
85,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly
1
—
Seat belts: front: retractor
1
—
Steering: column
1
—
Steering: hydraulic power assist system
1
68,500 mi
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
The 2000 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.