WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. I NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE, AND LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THAT THE LIGHTS HAD COME IN AND THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN PARK AND START THE ENGINE. NO FURTHER PROBLEMS THE REST OF THAT TRIP. ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO MY DAUGHTER. ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE GETTING ON FREEWAY AND SHE WA ABLE TO START CAR BACK UP. THIS WEEK, TUESDAY, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING SHE CAME TO A FULL STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND AS SHE STARTED TO GO THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VOLTAGE LIGHT CAME ON, CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, SHE TRIED TO REV ENGINE NOTHING HAPPENED THAT IS WHEN SHE PUT IN PARK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THE MILEAGE NO IS 117,375. I HAVE LOOKED ON RECALL LIST AND HAVE NOT FOUND THIS YEAR AND MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #10662273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 OLDSMOBILE 98. THE ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP FAILED. UPDATED 10/30/08.
NHTSA complaint #10208769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY IN JULY OF 2005 WITH 78000 MILES ON IT. MARCH OF 2006 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF. THE COOLANT WAS BONE DRY UPON INSPECTION BY SELF. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE LEAKS. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO HAD TO REPLACE THE PLENUM AT A COST OF $533.00. THE PLENUM HAD CRACKED AND COOLANT RAN INTO THE #3 CYLINDER. I THEN HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED AT THE DEALER WHO CHARGED ME $170.00 FOR THAT JOB. NOW I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-THEFT LOCK SYSTEM. MY SECURITY LIGHT KEEPS COMING AND GOING AND MY CAR WON'T RECOGNIZE MY KEY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ABOUT (EVERY 3RD START LATELY) THE FUEL SYSTEM AND THE STARTER SHUT DOWN FOR 3 MINUTES. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS START AFTER I WAIT 3 OR 4 MINUTES EITHER, SO I HAVE TO SIT AND WAIT ANOTHER 3-4 MINUTES AND SO ON. (ONCE I HAD WAITED 2 HOURS BEFORE IT WOULD START.) I HAD A LOCKSMITH LOOK AT IT WHO SAID HE COULD FIX IT (ULTIMATELY HE COULDN'T) BUT ENDED UP PAYING $135.00 FOR THAT SERVICE AND THEN FIGHTING HIM WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S HELP AND GOT A REFUND. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID IT IS "PROBABLY" THE COMPUTER AND CHARGED ME $80.00 TO TELL ME THAT. HE SAID HE COULD "TRY" TO FIX THAT PROBLEM FOR ABOUT $450.00. I DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE AND WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP ME.
NHTSA complaint #10176707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY WAS LOSING COOLANT. I COULD NOT SEE A VISIBLE LEAK. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE SERVICED. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE UPPER INTAKE (PLENUM) TO BE LEAKING THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE (CYLINDER #3.) THE LEAK WAS CAUSED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE INTAKE PLENUM IS MADE OF PLASTIC. I INTEND TO SEND OLDSMOBILE A COPY OF MY BILL WHICH WAS $533.32. WHY WOULD A COMPANY MAKE A PART SUCH AS THIS OUT OF PLASTIC? BY THE WAY, MY INDICATOR LIGHT IS STILL ON, SO I WILL NEED TO HAVE A DEALER CHECK IT OUT, AS THE ORIGINAL MECHANIC CAN FIND NO REASON FOR IT REMAINING LIT.
NHTSA complaint #10153116 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NAR 03-25-2003. *MR. SEVERAL PARTS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED SUCH AS 2 EGR VALVES, IDLE PASSAGE SWITCH, POWER ANTENNA, TRANSMISSION GASKET, CV BOOT, AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITION CONTROL UNIT, RADIO SPEAKERS, CRUISE CONTROL, RANDOM STALLING, CRACKED RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE SPRING, WHEEL ALIGNMENT DID NOT HOLD, AIR CONDITION DID NOT WORK DUE TO A FREON LEAK, HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTING SCREW BROKE, TIE RODS, BATTERY CABLES, GAS GAUGE BROKE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE, THE HORN WAS HARD TO PUSH.
NHTSA complaint #10012364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
NAR 03-25-2003. *MR. SEVERAL PARTS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED SUCH AS 2 EGR VALVES, IDLE PASSAGE SWITCH, POWER ANTENNA, TRANSMISSION GASKET, CV BOOT, AUTOMATIC AIR CONDITION CONTROL UNIT, RADIO SPEAKERS, CRUISE CONTROL, RANDOM STALLING, CRACKED RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE SPRING, WHEEL ALIGNMENT DID NOT HOLD, AIR CONDITION DID NOT WORK DUE TO A FREON LEAK, HEAD LIGHT ADJUSTING SCREW BROKE, TIE RODS, BATTERY CABLES, GAS GAUGE BROKE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER BROKE, THE HORN WAS HARD TO PUSH.
NHTSA complaint #10012364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
COOLANT LEAKED OUT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. HAD TO REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND GASKETS. *BF E-MAILED CONSUMER RESPONSE EXHAUST GASES HAD GOTTEN INTO THE PLASTIC UPPER MANIFOLD HAD THERMALLY BROKE DOWN THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10101571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS IN FIRE. THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER WERE ABLE TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE WITH HELP FROM THE PASSERBY. ONCE THE CONSUMER AND PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED OFF THE ROAD AND BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT SHOULDER, KNEE SPRAINS AND BURSITIS. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10099350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1998 OLDS REGENCY WITH 62000 MILES ON IT. THIS CAR HAS THE STANDARD 3.8 LITER V-6 WHICH HAS BEEN IN PRODUCTION FOR PROBABLY 30 YEARS. I NOTICED RECENTLY THE COOLANT RESERVOIR LEVEL WAS SLIGHTLY DOWN AND ADDED COOLANT TO BRING IT UP TO LEVEL. TWO WEEKS LATER MY ENGINE TEMPERATURE WAS SLIGHTLY HIGH SO I CHECKED THE RESERVOIR LEVEL AGAIN. THE RESERVOIR WAS DRY AND I COULDN'T SEE ANY COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, ADDED DISTILLED WATER AND GOT IT THERE. WHEN I ARRIVED THERE WAS COOLANT LEAKING OUT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE NEXT DAY THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS AND GASKETS AT A COST OF $1050. I QUESTIONED MYSELF AND THE SERVICE MANAGER HOW AN INTAKE MANIFOLD COULD GO BAD. HE INFORMED THAT THE UPPER MANIFOLD WAS MADE OF PLASTIC. I TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AFTER THE FIX. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE EGR NIPPLE THAT FLOW EXHAUST GASES INTO THE PLASTIC UPPER MANIFOLD HAD THERMALLY BROKE DOWN THE PLASTIC AND CAUSED THE LEAK. GM'S FIX WAS TO DECREASE THE SIZE OF THE NIPPLE IN THE LOWER MANIFOLD SO THERE WAS AN AIR GAP BETWEEN THE NIPPLE AND THE PLASTIC UPPER MANIFOLD. THIS FIX WOULD STOP HEAT FROM BEING TRANSFERRED DIRECTLY TO THE PLASTIC UPPER MANIFOLD. GM HAS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ADDRESSED IT BY CHANGING THE REPLACEMENT MANIFOLDS. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED SO THE TOTAL COST IS THE BURDEN OF THE OWNER. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR PROPERLY AND I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS NOT MY FAULT. THE PROBLEM IS GM DOESN'T THINK IT'S THEIR FAULT EITHER.
NHTSA complaint #10096360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
INTAKE MANIFOLD, MADE OF PLASTIC, RUPTURED DUMPING COOLANT INTO CYLINDERS. RESULTED IN INSTANTANEOUS STOPPAGE OF ENGINE AND LOSS OF POWER STEERING. COULD EASILY HAVE LED TO WRECK. *AK MECHANIC AT FIRST GM DEALER CONTACTED DIAGNOSED PROBLEM SIGHT UNSEEN AS IT IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM. GM STRONGLY SUGGESTED HAVING WORK DONE AT A DEALERSHIP SO THEY COULD MAKE "ADJUSTMENTS" TO THE REPAIR BILL. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALER, NO "ADJUSTMENTS" WERE MADE, TOWING BILL WAS EXHORBITANT, AND REPAIR BILL WAS 30% HIGHER THAN QUOTED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEFECTIVE PART IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION (IN MY POSSESSION).
NHTSA complaint #10091349 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I OWN A 1997 OLDSMOBILE REGENCY V6-3800 3.8L, VIN: [XXX]. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT, AND THE COST TO REPLACE IS APPROX. $800~$1000, DUE TO A GASKET FAILURE. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE GASKET SHOULD HAVE FAILED SO SOON. THE SERVICE DEPT. AT OLDS TELLS ME THAT THEIR ARE GASKET PROBLEMS WITH 3.1L AS WELL AS 3.8L, WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ISSUE, AND WHAT IS BEING DONE, OR IS MY PROBLEM NORMAL. PLEASE RESPOND ASAP. THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10018574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING, THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT BAD. THIS CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE INOPERATIVE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE HARMOIC BALANCER LOCATED IN THE ENGINE HAD WENT OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
NHTSA complaint #10001238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COOLANT WARNING LIGHT CAME ON---A LARGE POOL OF COOLANT UNDER CAR AFTER STOPPING---INSPECTION OF CAR SHOWED RETAINING CLIPS WERE BROKEN, BUT SENSOR STILL IN PLACE
NHTSA complaint #9006559 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATES COOLANT WARNING LIGHT FLASHES, THERE IS PUDDLES OF ANTIFREEZE CAUSED BY THE COOLANT LEVEL SENSOR RETAINER CLIPS BREAKING OFF AND LEAVING THE SENSOR RETAINED ONLY BY THE FRICTION OF THE O-RING SEALS.
NHTSA complaint #566689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8015566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE WILL START STALLING, RESULTING IN COMPLETE SHUTDOWN.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN, BUT NOT NECCESSARILY WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AIR MASS FLOW SENSOR WERE REPLACED AND A CRACKED VACCUM LINE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8015566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER WAS GETTING A CLUNK AT TIMES WHEN BRAKING AND ALSO WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE AN ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH IS A LOOSE CRADLE BOLT.
NHTSA complaint #566170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS STALLED 7 TIMES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE TWICE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE.*AK TO STOP ENGINE STALLING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #8010878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.