WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY UNDER EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES (-22 DEGREES F.) AND HIGH HUMIDITY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHING (AIR) VENT CAN BE BLOCKED DUE TO MOISTURE FREEZING AT THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE. IF THIS OCCURS, PRESSURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE WILL INCREASE AND PUSH OUT THE REAR OIL SEAL, CAUSING TRANSMISSION OIL LEAKAGE. THE LACK OF LUBRICATION CAN BURN THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION, CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE AND THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP.
Safety risk
SUDDEN STOPS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAN CAUSE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS TO BE THROWN AROUND THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE OIL GAUGE PIPE AND MODIFY THE OIL LEVEL GAUGE (DIPSTICK) OR REPLACE IT, DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF DIPSTICK IN THE VEHICLE.
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE MAY BE INCORRECTLY ADJUSTED AND WOULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN A FULL PARK POSITION WHEN PLACED IN PARK.
Safety risk
IF TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM IS NOT IN PARK WHILE THEVEHICLE IS RUNNING OR ON AN INCLINE, A RUNAWAY SITUATION WOULD OCCUR WHICHCOULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PARK MECHANISM.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Power train: automatic transmission
3
135,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
2
—
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch
2
—
Seat belts
2
309,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
1
—
Engine
1
309,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
1
—
Equipment
1
—
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift
1
—
Power train: manual transmission
1
—
Seat belts: front: webbing
1
—
Suspension
1
—
Vehicle speed control
1
—
Visibility: power window devices and controls
1
—
The 1990 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 1992 model has about a third 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.
