NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA96023

INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: Air Bags

CLOSED

no recall issued

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA -- Airbag(s) deploy unexpectedly, startling and/or injuring the occupants.five vehicles allegedly experienced airbag deployment due to corrosion in thesensing and diagnostic module which is located on the floor under the front passengers seat.two additional complaints allege inappropriate deployment; however, the cause of these two deployments is unknown at this time. Investigation was initiated on September 27 1996. Closed on February 13 1998. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA96023 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #PE96031

INAPPROPRIATE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT: Air Bags

CLOSED

no recall issued

1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA -- Complaints allege non-collision air bag deployment. Investigation was initiated on April 18 1996. Closed on September 27 1996. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #PE96031 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #EA03019

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE: Steering:Rack And Pinion**

RECALL »

Recall #03V527000

** This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA -- GM's letter to NHTSA dated December 11, 2003, expands its original recall (NHTSA 02V286) to include certain W-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, Monte Carlo and Malibu; 96 Pontiac Grand Prix; and 96-98 Buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.GM determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force.GM states, "higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing."all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force.the 96 lumina/Monte Carlo and 97-98 century W-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall. Investigation was initiated on September 15 2003. Closed on December 18 2003. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #EA03019 »

NHTSA Defect Investigation #RQ03001

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE: Steering:Rack And Pinion**

CLOSED

no recall issued

** This defect investigation is filed under 2 related vehicle components.
1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA -- GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (R&P). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet cavalier and Pontiac sunfire sedans built between January 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997.ODI opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on ODI's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the W-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, ODI will further examine the W-cars (1996-1997 Oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 Buick regal, Chevrolet lumina, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1997-1998 Buick century, and 1998 Oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019. Investigation was initiated on January 02 2003. Closed on September 15 2003. For detailed information & supporting documents, see the official NHTSA page concerning investigation #RQ03001 »