NHTSA Campaign 04V036000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
NHTSA campaign 04V036000 covers 4 year-make-model versions listed here and concerns the electrical system: ignition: switch. The repair is free.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP filed the report for 04V036000 with NHTSA on January 27, 2004; the manufacturer initiated the recall.
For 04V036000, NHTSA lists up to 1,415,231 potentially affected vehicles, built between March 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999.
The 04V036000 report reached NHTSA 5 years after the last affected vehicle was built.
Owner notification letters for 04V036000 were scheduled from March 1, 2004, 34 days after the report.
04V036000 covers 2 models from Chevrolet and Pontiac, model years 2000–2001.
Owners of the model years 04V036000 covers have filed at least 169 complaints naming the electrical system, about this defect or others in the same group.
Among the 04V036000 vehicles, the 2000 Chevrolet Cavalier has the most (69).
By potentially affected vehicles, 04V036000 ranks 4 of 253 GENERAL MOTORS CORP recalls on this site.
Besides 04V036000, GENERAL MOTORS CORP has 9 other recalls on the electrical system on this site; the one before 04V036000 was 03V231000, reported on June 23, 2003.
What this recall covers
- The defect
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- Notes
- GM RECALL NO. 04002.
Reported January 27, 2004
Vehicles covered by 04V036000 (4)
Chevrolet (2)
Pontiac (2)
Being on this list means your year, make and model fall inside campaign 04V036000, not that your own vehicle does: a campaign covers a range of VINs. A VIN check on NHTSA's lookup shows whether it is.
Newest record on this page: January 27, 2004. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted