NHTSA Complaint #567518 — 1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM

WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE AND DIM SPORADICALLY. CONSUMER TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN TURNED THE IGNITION ON. THE VEHICLE STALLED, PRESENTING IT INOPERABLE AT THAT TIME. THE STEERING BECAME STIFF AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SWITCH GEARS TO NEUTRAL. SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY AND REPAIRED BECAUSE THE GM FACILITY WAS CLOSED. THE REPAIR SPECIALIST INFORMED CONSUMER THE PROBLEM TRACED BACK TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF AN ALTERNATOR AND A BATTERY RECHARGE. PONTIAC WAS CONTACTED SHORTLY (REQUEST C20753090) AND INFORMED CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS OR RECALL RELATING TO THE INCIDENT. IN APRIL 2002, GM SENT CONSUMER A RECALL LETTER (02V07) REGARDING FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH REPAIR, BUT HAS NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR CAUSED BY THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH. CONSUMER EXPECTS GM TO REIMBURSE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE COST. *JG