GM recalling 1.4 million passenger cars over potential engine fires
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just announced a major recall covering nearly 1.5 million General Motors passenger cars from the late 90's and early 2000s. The recall affects various Buick, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, and Pontiac models equipped with normally aspirated versions of GM's much-utilized 3800 3.8-liter V6.
Apparently, some of these engines can drop oil onto the exhaust manifold during hard braking. If that manifold has gotten hot enough and the oil dribbles below the heat shield, it can start a small fire. The flames can then engulf the plastic spark plug wire channel, potentially resulting in a full-on engine compartment fire.
The fix? Dealer service departments will be asked to remove said spark plug wire retention channel from the front of the engine bay, and then retrofit two new retainers.
Models Affected:
1997-2003 Buick Regal
2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala
1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina
1998-2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
1997-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
The recall is slated to begin in May. Official NHTSA Release after the jump.
[Source: NHTSA]
PRESS RELEASE:
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
BUICK / REGAL 1997-2003
CHEVROLET / IMPALA 2000-2003
CHEVROLET / LUMINA 1998-1999
CHEVROLET / MONTE CARLO 1998-2003
OLDSMOBILE / INTRIGUE 1998-1999
PONTIAC / GRAND PRIX 1997-2003
Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. Mfr's Report Date: APR 08, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V116000
EA07008
NHTSA Action Number: EA07008
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1497516
Summary:
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 1,497,516 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL, MY 1998-2003 CHEVROLET LUMINA, MONTE CARLO AND IMPALA, MY 1998-1999 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE, MY 1997-2003 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L V6 NATURALLY ASPIRATED ENGINE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY BE DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING.
Consequence:
IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE RETENTION CHANNEL AT THE FRONT OF ENGINE AND INSTALL TWO NEW SPARK PLUG WIRE RETAINERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537, AND PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM OR HTTP:WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Notes:
GM RECALL NO. 90047. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
phewop118 1:05PM (4/13/2009)
These are some of the greatest engines of all time. Too bad something like this has to taint their great reputation for reliability.
Reply
PJ 1:27PM (4/13/2009)
I was going to say the same thing. It's almost a relief to know *something* can kill them... otherwise they're like cockroaches, following a nuclear war there'd be nothing alive but roaches and 3800 V6s.
inteller 1:43PM (4/13/2009)
wow, today is a day for firsts.....never thought i'd see "greatest" and "3800" in the same sentence!
Get your recalls done while you still can!
phewop118 2:06PM (4/13/2009)
There is simply no argument against the 3800. Sure, it was not technologically advanced, it has roots from the 1960s, and it cost next to nothing to manufacture. But, it is quiet, smooth, has tons of torque, and generally is incredibly reliable. Most people never have to do anything to them except oil changes every 10k miles and plugs and coolant every 100k miles.
They never die. You can run them without oil and coolant for short periods of time and they still will not cash in. And even though they are made out of iron, they weigh only 20 lbs more than the GM all aluminum High Feature 3.6 V6. In addition, they can easily get well over 30 mpg on the highway (and that's in big, heavy cars) and the 3800 series III is the only V6 to ever be rated as a SULEV engine (which is the right behind partial-zero emissions).
I don't see how anyone can bash GM on these engines. I never heard any Toyota bashing about their oil sludge problems, even though it happened to cars with low miles and was quite prevalent among most engines.
Rob 2:14PM (4/13/2009)
Great engine except for the Series II (1995 - 2005) upper intake manifold failures. Too bad they didn't issue a recall for that.
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1061
KeatMP 2:26PM (4/13/2009)
I've got 218,000 miles on my 3800....still runs like a champ.
skzzilla 4:04PM (4/13/2009)
And the low compression versions of the Series 2 (L67) love the boost!!! I'm still trying to figure out a good chassis for a RWD L67 engine swap. I will not fit in a Fiero. :(
MoonRover 6:12PM (4/13/2009)
The only way to kill a 3800 is to blow it up, it just keeps running and running. Maybe the best most reliable automobile engine ever built.
Danny 1:11PM (4/13/2009)
Typical GM/Domestic quality at it's finest.
Reply
larry a 1:14PM (4/13/2009)
Agreed, you get what you pay for
Sektor 1:17PM (4/13/2009)
This is a prejudiced opinion. People need to get over this aversion to domestics.
They ARE getting better (maybe a bit too late, but still).
sydbot 1:18PM (4/13/2009)
Funny, my Olds Intrigue with the 3.5L V6 is just fine.
rooster 1:29PM (4/13/2009)
Same comment as to the urchin. Yes, GM had problems, but has made significant strides. Look at current models.
Danny 1:43PM (4/13/2009)
I've no prejudice against domestics. I've been driving GM and Chrysler's for years (Chevy Silverados, Chevy Corvettes, Dodge Dakotas, SRT8 Jeep, etc).
I am one of those domestic fan boys and even I can't deny that their reliability/quality is appalling. I want to love them, but it's so hard. Especially when you buy a new vehicle and have to promptly take it in for axle leaks, transmission problems, constant rattles EVERYWHERE in the interior, brake problems, etc. Heck, I can't even drive my Z06 in the rain since the door seals leak like absolute bastards and the best GM's warranty can do is blame it on an 'windshield replacement that destroyed the weather seals' and then refuse to fix it properly. (The car has the original OEM windshield).
So if GM can't keep the fanboy's happy, how are they supposed to attract new customers?
Taglane 1:45PM (4/13/2009)
Well, sure they weren't the "oh so great" Honda quality a decade ago.
chad.dawkins 1:50PM (4/13/2009)
Actually this is "quality" at it's finest since this is one of the most reliable engines on the road. I have 120K miles on my Grand Prix and it has given me no problems mechanically and only minor electrical ones(the light on my radio went out).
jv2k 4:00PM (4/13/2009)
I agree. No real problems until 10+ years of ownership.
If anything it's commendable that they are giving a recall on cars built in 1997.
jv2k 4:10PM (4/13/2009)
Danny: About the leak, would a silicon sealant work fix the leak or is it in a place that's too noticeable?
Ken 4:32PM (4/13/2009)
JV2K, I don't think the problem is that there is a leak, it's that if there's a leak, and the exhaust is hot, and the oil leaks past the heat sheild this could happen. I wonder how many actual fires there have been because of this. It obviously took long enough that the seals were beginning to age and leak in order for the problem to become prevalent enough to come to the NHTSA's attention.
jv2k 5:14PM (4/13/2009)
ken I meant his windshield leak.