# NHTSA recall 02V070000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 02V070000
- Manufacturer's number: 02008
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Reported: 2002\-03\-06
- Owners notified: 2002\-03\-27
- Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Units potentially affected: 1589948

## What is wrong

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE ENGINE FAILS TO START AND THE DRIVER HOLDS THE KEY IN THE "START" POSITION FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD, HIGH CURRENT FLOWS THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH, AND SOMETIMES PRODUCES ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT INTERNAL SWITCH PARTS.


## What can happen

IF THE SWITCH IS DAMAGED, A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING COLUMN, EVEN WITH THE ENGINE OFF AND THE KEY REMOVED.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY KIT IN THESE VEHICLES TO PREVENT HIGH CURRENT FROM FLOWING THROUGH THE IGNITION SWITCH.    OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 27, 2002.   OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1\-800\-222\-1020, PONTIAC AT 1\-800\-762\-2737, BUICK AT 1\-800\-521\-7300, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1\-800\-442\-6537.


## Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1996 BUICK SKYLARK](/makes/buick/skylark/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-04\-01 to 1996\-07\-31.
- [1997 BUICK SKYLARK](/makes/buick/skylark/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-06\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1995 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1995/recalls.md). Built 1994\-03\-01 to 1995\-08\-31.
- [1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1996/recalls.md). Built 1994\-11\-01 to 1996\-08\-31.
- [1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1996 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA](/makes/oldsmobile/achieva/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-05\-01 to 1996\-07\-31.
- [1997 OLDSMOBILE ACHIEVA](/makes/oldsmobile/achieva/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-06\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM](/makes/pontiac/grand-am/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-05\-01 to 1996\-07\-31.
- [1997 PONTIAC GRAND AM](/makes/pontiac/grand-am/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-06\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- 1995 PONTIAC SUNFIRE. Built 1994\-04\-01 to 1995\-08\-31.
- [1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-04\-01 to 1996\-08\-31.
- [1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.

## Investigated as PE02001

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- PE02001: Preliminary evaluation, opened 2002\-01\-03, closed 2002\-03\-15. FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN AREA. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V070000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V070000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [010849020](/bulletins/631899.md), 2002-06-25, Service bulletin
- [776403](/bulletins/51301.md), 1997-06-27, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V070000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V070000)

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