Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts › front › retractor. It has been recalled 3 times.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts › Front › Retractor | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Equipment › Mechanical › Carrier/Rack | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tires › Tread/Belt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Risk. VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
Defect. THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.
Risk. IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.
Defect. VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AFFECTED BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy. OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE BELT LOCKS UP. REPLACEMENT OF THE SUSPECT SAFETY BELT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE STOPPED RETRACTING. THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE PRECURSOR TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *NM
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NLM
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT START OPERATING. THE SYSTEM APPEARED "FROZEN" YET WOULD START OPERATING AGAIN IN A FEW HOURS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED IN MY 1994 OLDSMOBILE TRUCK SILHOUETTE. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY IN THESE VEHICLES THAT ALLOWS THE MOTORS TO HANG.*AK
TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT FRONT TIRE. AT HIGH SPEED THE TIRE FELT LIKE A BALANCE WEIGHT HAD BEEN LOST AND THUMPED. AT LOWER SPEEDS (BELOW 30MPH) THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "ROCK" LIKE THE FRONT END OR STEERING MECHANISM WAS LOOSE AND WOULD PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. CONTINUED HIGH SPEED DRIVING COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.( DOT NUMBER: ACMD AB6 2 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
WINDSHIELD IS DELAMINATING. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK *ML
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE SLIDING. BRAKES WOULD GRAB/LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
OUR MINI-VAN REAR-ENDED A CADILLAC IN LINE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE TRAFFIC HAD STOPPED DUE TO A BACKUP, BUT THE LIGHT WAS GREEN, AND IT WAS LATE WHEN MY WIFE HIT THE BRAKES. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST GM DEALER, MEIER OLDS, TO HAVE THE BRAKE SYSTEM CHECKED. MY WIFE HAD MENTIONED THAT SHE DIDN'T THINK THAT THE BRAKES HAD FUNCTIONED DURING THE INCIDENT. SHE COMMENTED ON HAVING PUSHED THE PEDAL AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE CAR DIDN'T STOP. GM SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, SO WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND REPAIRED. THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS SINCE, BUT THE RECENT RECALL MADE ME SUSPICIOUS, AND WANT TO FILE THIS REPORT.*AK
MANUFACTURER CONTACTED - THEY CLAIM THESE PARTS WERE ALREADY FIXED - WILL NOT FIX AGAIN
WE RAN INTO A CURB AT ABOUT 40 MPH. MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S CAR SEAT WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE SEATBELT BEHIND THE DRIVER, DETACHED (THE CLASP FROM THE BUCKLE) AND MY DAUGHTER AND THE CAR SEAT WERE THROWN FORWARD INTO THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ABOUT 3 WEEKS AFTER THIS INCIDENT, THE SEATBELT RETRACTOR ON THIS SEAT NO LONGER RETRACTED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT RETRACTOR ALSO WOULD NO LONGER RETRACT. BOTH OF THESE HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I CHECKED THE DATABASE AND THERE WAS BOTH A RECALL ON SEATBELTS AND A TECHNICAL ADVISORY RELATED BULLETIN. I CHECKED WITH A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WE HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. IN REF. TO THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY - HE GAVE ME A COPY OF IT. IN GENERAL, THE OLD/ORIGINAL SEAT BELTS ALL RETRACT VERY SLOWLY. YOU HAVE TO PRACTICALLY "FEED" THEM INTO THE RETRACTORS. THIS DOES NOT SEEM RIGHT, NOR DOES IT SEEM RIGHT TO HAVE RETRACTOR FAILURES AT 80K MILES. OUR CONFIDENCE IS WANING ON THIS VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT SYSTEM. WITH A WIFE AND 3 KIDS CONSTANTLY TRAVELING AROUND, I AM CONCERNED WITH THEIR SAFETY. ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, JERRY SYLVESTRE. *AK
STEEL CABLE WHICH HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE FELL OFF IN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVE WAY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK
CABLE HOLDING SPARE TIRE RUSTED AND WHEEL FEEL OFF.
DRIVER'S SEAT BACK BROKE.
DRIVING OFF INTERSECTION; APPLIED BRAKES & PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR; TURNED VEHICEL AROUND & HEADED HOME. CHECKED & NOTICED BRAKE FLUID ON BOTH WHEELS. ALSO BRAKE LINES/HOSES COMPLETELY SHOT. HAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.
TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE RUPTURED, CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO FAIL.
UNSATISFACTORY RESULTS OF RECALL CAMPAIGN RESULTED IN THE SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE TO RUPTURE.
FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT WON'T RETRACT, BELTS FULLY EXTENDED. *AK
PREMATURE WEAR OF TIE ROD END. *AK
BATTERY CABLES SHORTED OUT, CAUSING ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 | 36 | 5 | 0 | 6 | Fatalities reported |
| 2002 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2001 | 78 | 9 | 3 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2000 | 114 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 149 | 7 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 170 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1997 | 104 | 9 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1996 | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 46 | 2 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1993 — this page | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | Routine |
| 1992 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1991 | 37 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Fatalities reported |
| 1990 | 43 | 5 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jan 23, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.