Car Problems

If you are in the market for a used or new car or if you are the owner of one, make sure to check if there are any current or past investigations of vehicle defects by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency or Technical Service Bulletins issued by car Manufacturers regarding particular issues. Some defect investigations by the NHTSA have related safety recalls; where that is the case, the NHTSA Recall number is also showned so that you can cross reference with the relevant recall case. Technical Service Bulletins are alerts sent by the car manufacturer to dealerships to inform them of defects or necessary repairs; ask the dealer about this as the dealer may not voluntarily tell you. To see if there are problems for another car, select the year, make, and or model and click Search.

Year

Make

Model

Year	Make	Model	Type	Date
1995	SUBARU	LEGACY	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/11/01 - Close 2000/05/31	NHTSA #: PE99067 NHTSA Recall #: 00I002000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1996	SUBARU	LEGACY	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/11/01 - Close 2000/05/31	NHTSA #: PE99067 NHTSA Recall #: 00I002000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1997	SUBARU	LEGACY	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/11/01 - Close 2000/05/31	NHTSA #: PE99067 NHTSA Recall #: 00I002000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: ODI HAS RECEIVED 5,820 COMPLAINTS CONCERNING A VARIETY OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURES THAT RESULT IN THE VEHICLE STALLING.OUR COMPLAINT ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE COMPAINTS ARE CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR FAILURE.IN SOME INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WILL NOT RESTART.BASED ON OUR INVESTIGATION AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPOMSE, ODI IS CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS AGREED TO PERFORM THE OWNER NORTIFICATION PROGRAM CITED ABOVE, INCLUDING QUARTERLY NOTIFICATIONS TO ODI.THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS OWNERS TO GET THEIR ALTERNATOR REPLACED FOR FREE.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS MATTER CLOSELY, AND THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THESE MODELS IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
1998	OLDSMOBILE	INTRIGUE	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/07/07 - Close 2000/02/22	NHTSA #: EA99019 NHTSA Recall #: 00V044000
SEAT BELTS:REAR: THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONCERNS TWO MAJOR SYMPTOMS:FAILURE TO RETRACT WEBBING AND INABILITY TO EXTEND THE WEBBINNG FOR USE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE SYMPTOMS IS THE DESIGN OF THE TRIM BEZEL THROUGH WHICH THE SEBBING PASSES. BUILT INTO THE REAR PACKAGE SHELF, THE BEZEL INCLUDES A VERTICAL SLOT TO FACILITATE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.THE SLOT IS POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING TENDS TO SLIP INTO IT.WEBBING INGESTION BY THE VERTICAL SLOT MAY RETARD WEBBING RETRACTION, OR ALLOW WEBBING TWISTS TO ACCUMULATE ON THE RETRACTOR SPOOL.IN EITHER CASE, THE RETRACTOR MAY FAIL TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE TENSION ON THE SEAT OCCUPANT.FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT TO COMPLETELY RETRACT MAY ALSO RESULT IN AN INABILITY TO EXTEND IT FOR USE IF THE CHILD RESTRAINT CINCH FEATURE HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE (BY EXTENDING THE WEBBING TO ITS MAXIMUM LENGTH).GM WILL REMEDY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BY STRAIGHTENING AN TWISTED REAR SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND THEM INSTALLING A PLASTIC COVER THAT WILL PREVENT FURTHER WEBBING INGESTION BY THE WEBBING GUIDE VERTICAL SLOT.THIS ENGINEERIGN ANANLYSIS IS CLOSED.
1999	OLDSMOBILE	INTRIGUE	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/07/07 - Close 2000/02/22	NHTSA #: EA99019 NHTSA Recall #: 00V044000
SEAT BELTS:REAR: THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONCERNS TWO MAJOR SYMPTOMS:FAILURE TO RETRACT WEBBING AND INABILITY TO EXTEND THE WEBBINNG FOR USE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE SYMPTOMS IS THE DESIGN OF THE TRIM BEZEL THROUGH WHICH THE SEBBING PASSES. BUILT INTO THE REAR PACKAGE SHELF, THE BEZEL INCLUDES A VERTICAL SLOT TO FACILITATE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.THE SLOT IS POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING TENDS TO SLIP INTO IT.WEBBING INGESTION BY THE VERTICAL SLOT MAY RETARD WEBBING RETRACTION, OR ALLOW WEBBING TWISTS TO ACCUMULATE ON THE RETRACTOR SPOOL.IN EITHER CASE, THE RETRACTOR MAY FAIL TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE TENSION ON THE SEAT OCCUPANT.FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT TO COMPLETELY RETRACT MAY ALSO RESULT IN AN INABILITY TO EXTEND IT FOR USE IF THE CHILD RESTRAINT CINCH FEATURE HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE (BY EXTENDING THE WEBBING TO ITS MAXIMUM LENGTH).GM WILL REMEDY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BY STRAIGHTENING AN TWISTED REAR SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND THEM INSTALLING A PLASTIC COVER THAT WILL PREVENT FURTHER WEBBING INGESTION BY THE WEBBING GUIDE VERTICAL SLOT.THIS ENGINEERIGN ANANLYSIS IS CLOSED.
1995	BUICK	RIVIERA	Defect Investigation	Open 2000/02/22 - Close 2000/03/06	NHTSA #: EA00006 NHTSA Recall #: 00V057000
SEAT BELTS:REAR: IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2000 TO NHTSA, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 85,253 MODEL YEAR 1995 BUICK RIVIERA AND OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES FOR THE DEFECT IN THE OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES.
1995	OLDSMOBILE	AURORA	Defect Investigation	Open 2000/02/22 - Close 2000/03/06	NHTSA #: EA00006 NHTSA Recall #: 00V057000
SEAT BELTS:REAR: IN ITS LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 25, 2000 TO NHTSA, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OF 85,253 MODEL YEAR 1995 BUICK RIVIERA AND OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES FOR THE DEFECT IN THE OUTBOARD REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES.
1994	NISSAN	SENTRA	Defect Investigation		NHTSA #: SQ99018 NHTSA Recall #: 00V063000
SUSPENSION: NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA OF 11,100 1994 THROUGH 1996 SENTRA 2 DOOR MODELS IN WHICH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE FRACTURING FROM CORROSION FATIGUE.NISSAN REPORTED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR FROM A LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COATING ON THE SPRINGS AND EXPOSURE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT.CORROSION CAN CAUSE PITS TO FORM ON THE SPRING SURFACE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SPRING.A BROKEN SPRING COULDPUNCTURE THE AFFECTED TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE CANADIAN RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 99-069, DATED APRIL 28, 1999.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE CANADIAN SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE U.S. AS A SAFETY RECALL.
1995	NISSAN	SENTRA	Defect Investigation		NHTSA #: SQ99018 NHTSA Recall #: 00V063000
SUSPENSION: NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA OF 11,100 1994 THROUGH 1996 SENTRA 2 DOOR MODELS IN WHICH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE FRACTURING FROM CORROSION FATIGUE.NISSAN REPORTED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR FROM A LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COATING ON THE SPRINGS AND EXPOSURE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT.CORROSION CAN CAUSE PITS TO FORM ON THE SPRING SURFACE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SPRING.A BROKEN SPRING COULDPUNCTURE THE AFFECTED TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE CANADIAN RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 99-069, DATED APRIL 28, 1999.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE CANADIAN SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE U.S. AS A SAFETY RECALL.
1996	NISSAN	SENTRA	Defect Investigation		NHTSA #: SQ99018 NHTSA Recall #: 00V063000
SUSPENSION: NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA OF 11,100 1994 THROUGH 1996 SENTRA 2 DOOR MODELS IN WHICH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE FRACTURING FROM CORROSION FATIGUE.NISSAN REPORTED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR FROM A LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COATING ON THE SPRINGS AND EXPOSURE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT.CORROSION CAN CAUSE PITS TO FORM ON THE SPRING SURFACE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SPRING.A BROKEN SPRING COULDPUNCTURE THE AFFECTED TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE CANADIAN RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 99-069, DATED APRIL 28, 1999.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE CANADIAN SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE U.S. AS A SAFETY RECALL.
1992	AUDI	100	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1993	AUDI	100	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1994	AUDI	100	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1995	AUDI	100	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1994	AUDI	A6	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1995	AUDI	A6	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1992	AUDI	S4	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1993	AUDI	S4	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1994	AUDI	S4	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK
1995	AUDI	S4	Defect Investigation	Open 1999/10/28 - Close 2000/03/31	NHTSA #: PE99065 NHTSA Recall #: 00V068000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES: FUEL SUPPLY LINE LEAK

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Source: NHTSA - National Highway Traffic Safety Administration