Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
Manufacturer
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
20,689
Reported to NHTSA
1996-09-26
Owners notified
1996-10-18
Defect description
WATER INTRUSION INTO THE KICK PANEL AREAS IN FRONT OF BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS CAN CAUSE A CORROSION PATH BETWEEN THE BATTERY FEED AND THE ELECTRICAL GROUND.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT LEADING TO IGNITION AND COMBUSION OF THE PLASTICS IN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE 25 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH 25 AMP FUSES IN THE FUSE BLOCK; REMOVE A TEMPORARY PAPER FUSE-BLOCK COVER; INSTALL A PLASTIC SHIELD OVER THE FUSE BLOCK; REPLACE AND REORIENT THE POWER DOOR LOCK RELAY (IF EQUIPPED); INSPECT THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY MODULE (IF EQUIPPED) FOR SIGNS OF CORROSION, REPLACE IF CORRODED, AND REORIENT IT; AND APPLY ADDITIONAL BODY SEALER IN KEY AREAS.
THE STEERING LINKAGE ASSEMBY CONTAINS A RELAY ROD TAPERED-STUD ATTACHMENT NUT THAT WAS NOT TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
Safety risk
THE TAPERED STUD CAN LOOSEN AND THE DRIVER WOULD NOTICE A LAG IN THE RESPONSIVENESS TO STEERING WHEEL INPUTS. EVENTUALLY THE RELAY ROD STUD CAN FRACTURE RESULTING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING CRIMPED NUT AND INSTALL A NEW NUT TORQUED TO SPECIFICATIONS.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
1
—
Fuel system, gasoline
1
118,350 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
1
—
Power train: axle assembly
1
—
Seats
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
1
—
Steering
1
—
Structure: body: door
1
—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices
1
—
The 1995 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. The 1997 model has roughly the same number of 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.