Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
Manufacturer
General Motors LLC
Vehicles affected
1,003,556
Reported to NHTSA
2015-10-26
Owners notified
2016-02-19
Defect description
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina and Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1997-2004 Buick Regal and Pontiac Grand Prix, 2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, and 1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. The affected vehicles were previously repaired under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 to address the possibility that engine oil may drip onto the hot exhaust manifold.
Safety risk
Engine oil that drips onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold may result in a fire.
Manufacturer remedy
The remedy applied under recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, and 15V-201 did not adequately remove the safety risk. Under the improved remedy, dealers will replace the engines front valve cover and gasket. Vehicles that are covered by recalls 08V-118, 09V-116, or 15V-201 that have not yet received the original remedy will instead receive the improved remedy under the original recall number. The recall began on February 19, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Oldsmobile customer service at 1-800-442-6537 and Pontiac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15757. Note: Until the improved remedy has been applied, owners are advised to park their vehicle outside since the fire risk exists even when the vehicle is unattended.
General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on April 2, 2015, that they are is recalling certain model year 2004 Buick Regal vehicles manufactured April 9, 2003, to June 1, 2003, 2004 Chevrolet Impala vehicles manufactured April 8, 2003, to June 23, 2003, and 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles manufactured April 7, 2003, to June 23, 2003. On May 18, 2015, GM expanded the recall to cover an additional 49,751 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2003, to June 25, 2004. In the affected vehicles, the valve cover gasket may leak.
Safety risk
The leaking engine oil can drip onto the hot surface of the exhaust manifold, increasing the risk of a fire.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the plastic cover and plastic oil fill tube extension and replace the front valve cover and gasket. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 24, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14574.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system
31
85,000 mi
Engine
18
97,650 mi
Engine and engine cooling
6
75,450 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)
5
96,000 mi
Steering
5
96,000 mi
Power train
3
73,000 mi
Unknown or other
3
110,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch
2
24,524 mi
Vehicle speed control
2
120,000 mi
Air bags
1
—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
1
48,000 mi
Electrical system: horn
1
—
Electrical system: ignition
1
120,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system
1
90,963 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
1
—
Exterior lighting
1
114,000 mi
Fuel system, other
1
—
Service brakes
1
129,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
25,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
1
21,000 mi
Steering: rack and pinion
1
—
Suspension: front
1
—
Suspension: front: hub
1
—
Tires
1
—
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system
1
—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
1
—
Wheels
1
—
The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2005 model has 12 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.