Alero recalled - part of GM ignition switch debacle.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

Hey Folks,

Just a heads-up that the Alero with presumably all other 1997+ N-body cars has been recalled for an ignition switch that could unintentionally turn the car off. It was part of 7.6 million vehicles recalled today.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/blob/view/-/26729364/data/2/-/rd5h4jz/-/063014-Six-Recalls-Chart-pdf.pdf

[sleepyalero]

Suptised they recall a 14 year old car.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I guess we should call GM and ask about it.

[jokerl90]

I entered the VIN number for my 2001 Alero at this site https://recalls.gm.com/#/ The only thing that came up was the recall for turn/hazard light switch, nothing about the ignition switch.
May take some time to get all the VIN's on the site.

[Nas Escobar]

Suptised they recall a 14 year old car.

Well in the Chrysler world, they are recalling a 20 year old car (the ZJ Grand Cherokee) so it's not too surprising.

To That 01Olds, it does cover the 1997 Malibu and 1999 Grand Am as well.

[aleros_eat_rice]

I called a GM dealer nearby, and they said they didn't have the recall info. They said it could take a few weeks for all of the dealers to get the bulletin.

[[ion] C2]

mine accidentally turned off when i bumped it once on the highway

[sleepyalero]

Ive never had mine shut off. Plus I dont have stock ignition in it. I dont think ill get mine replaced. Lol

[Redog]

Mine shut off while I was driving on the highway. I was going 60 mph, and I was coming into the city (traffic lights) so I was starting to slow down anyway.

I didn't panic like a lot of people do in this case. I was on a striaght road, so I put on the flashers, shift into netural and turned the key. It didn't turn over until the 2nd try, but it turned over. It always wanted to stall again after that so I took it to my mech at the time. Cost me $555 to get it repaired.

I'm jsut thinking that not only am I going to try to get my money back, but I may have another ign with the same problem :eek:

[TheEdgeofSanity]

I'm guessing all they will do is put an insert in the key to keep key rings right in the center of the key. less leverage to turn the key if there is weight on the key ring that way...

[tacollins]

My ignition has a short in it, so if it has been recalled it's a good thing that way I can get my faulty ignition fixed, haha. (The electronics don't always fire up until after the car runs for a few minutes, around 5-8 to be more precise.)

[a.graham52]

Cobalts and such get new switches, two new keys and new lock cylinder

[number53alero]

Never had it happen in mine yet. Bumped the shifter into neutral a time or two but nothing ignition related... Nothing on the GM site yet either but I imagine it takes awhile to update

[aleros_eat_rice]

I hope they replace mine anyway. The key needs to be a certain way, and I need to wiggle it for it to work.

[zzyzzx]

Never had it happen, but I don't keep extra keys on my Alero key chain either.

[Nas Escobar]

Never had it happen, but I don't keep extra keys on my Alero key chain either.

Ditto.

I only kept the remote on the key and I've never had issues with my Grand Am. Now that stupid trim that goes around the key hole... different story.

[Redog]

My ex in-laws are probably laughing about this now that the Alero has made the list. They always said American cars are all junk, except for only 1 1990 Mustang that was owned by their son. That was the only Amercian car that wasn't junk :rolleyes2:

They hated the car because it wasn't a Carmy with Leather interior and the gas pedal stuck to the floor with an "L" on the grille :lol:

They now say the Volvo is a POS. Let's see which car is still running after 300,000 miles:emotlol: :emotlol: :emotlol:

[[ion] C2]

cars are a huge compilation of components made by various suppliers

anything can happen

[Afugy]

I had my Alero turn off on me 5 or 6 times, always seem to happen right before a turn. Never had any problem shifting in neutral and restarting the car still moving going around a turn. Figures they recall a year after I lose the car/

[03glgold]

Both times with mine were caused by lanyard getting caught on something and both times were at a turning point...first time was 70 into a curve...i stopped using lanyards and haven't had a shutoff issue yet...am glad though as ignition is starting to stick

[falloutboy]

guys keep me posted on this.

especially some technical info and how and what they exactly do is very appreciated.
As I assume that export models wont be tangled by that recall - or I dont wanna drive 5 hours to the next real GM dealership that would do the work :D

[Nas Escobar]

The recall sitation probably affects export models as well... It's the same thing as the Toyota situation, they had to recall cars worldwide. I know China was the 2nd biggest market affected by the sticky pedal situation.

[falloutboy]

alright, as soon as the US Dealerships know anything specific about it (maybe a dedicated TSB Number :coolio: ) I'll contact the German GM Dealership I know.

[That01Olds]

Well in the Chrysler world, they are recalling a 20 year old car (the ZJ Grand Cherokee) so it's not too surprising.

To That 01Olds, it does cover the 1997 Malibu and 1999 Grand Am as well.

This is true it does. It also covers the 98-02 Intrigue, 00-05 Impala and Monte Carlo, and 04-08 Grand Prix. I actually remember on my Intrigue I could pull one of the keys out of the ignition while I was driving and the car would still run with no key in the ignition. So I guess it's a good thing they're finally recalling the cars for this issue. It sucks that it took almost 2 decades for some of these cars, but at least GM is recognizing the problem and correcting it. My old HHR was recalled too for the same issue and the funny part is it was already recalled once before for the ignition for a different issue. Then the key was known to get stuck in the lock position and the car wouldn't turn off if it was running and wouldn't release the key out of the igniton.

[falloutboy]

lol :) seems like the ignition lock supplier of GM had a serious design issue :D Or the requirements catalog was off the real problems its going to face.

Non the less, it would be quite nice to hear if the normal GM dealerships have the necessary paperwork and start the work on it, so I can ask my dealership here

[zzyzzx]

I assume that if I haven't already bypassed Passlock (I intend to do the resistor mod) that I should wait until after the recall work has been done?

[zzyzzx]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2052006&postcount=1

The solution won't be a new ignition switch at all, it will be sending additional detachable key rings to owners (allowing drivers to disconnect their car key from the rest of their key chain to reduce strain on the system) and/or inserts designed to fit within the ignition key head itself to alter the keyring attachment loop from a slot to a hole (because the slot can cause the weight of the keychain to hang asymmetrically, thereby increasing the amount of torque on the key and as a result, the switch.

I do not understand the second solution (more like a band aid).

[TheEdgeofSanity]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2052006&postcount=1

The solution won't be a new ignition switch at all, it will be sending additional detachable key rings to owners (allowing drivers to disconnect their car key from the rest of their key chain to reduce strain on the system) and/or inserts designed to fit within the ignition key head itself to alter the keyring attachment loop from a slot to a hole (because the slot can cause the weight of the keychain to hang asymmetrically, thereby increasing the amount of torque on the key and as a result, the switch.

I do not understand the second solution (more like a band aid).

basically the second solution makes the keychain hang in the center of the key head, that way it eliminates the lever action of a heavy keyring pulling on the key to one way or the other. by hanging in the center it takes away the turning force on the key.

[Nas Escobar]

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showpost.php?p=2052006&postcount=1

The solution won't be a new ignition switch at all, it will be sending additional detachable key rings to owners (allowing drivers to disconnect their car key from the rest of their key chain to reduce strain on the system) and/or inserts designed to fit within the ignition key head itself to alter the keyring attachment loop from a slot to a hole (because the slot can cause the weight of the keychain to hang asymmetrically, thereby increasing the amount of torque on the key and as a result, the switch.

I do not understand the second solution (more like a band aid).

In other words it's what a lot of GM enthusiasts have been saying when this issue first arose that the problem is not the ignition switch but the owners that hang janitor keys, pictures of graduation and their newborns on the keychain. So their solution is to make the key detach from the keychain or center the key ring so the weight won't pull the key down and accidentally turn it. Although the flaw with this is that the weight of the keychain will pull the key down eventually, even if it's centered and no one will actually detach the key from the keychian and if they do they will probably forget the key in the car or lose the key. So it's more like placing gauze on the cut until it starts clotting.

It all boils down to what I've been saying for a while, that if GM is forced to replace the ignition switch because the weight of the key has made it non functional then a lot of manufacturers will have to do the same thing, so part of this ends up being the precedent it sets if GM changes all ignition cylinders because owners are dumb enough to keep 500 pounds worth of keys with the car key instead of using the remote as the keychain and leaving the key be on the ring with the remote.

We all know that the Grand Am, Alero, and Malibu have a bigger issue with the ignition and it goes by the name of passlock but they will not address this, nor VATS (the earlier keys with the pellets in them) although they pose a greater safety issue than the car turning off by a bump since in the case of the Cobalt, the car can be restarted but if the security system prevents it from starting, you can easily be in the middle of a interstate with no way to move the car thus making you a big target for a rear end collision.

[That01Olds]

lol :) seems like the ignition lock supplier of GM had a serious design issue :D Or the requirements catalog was off the real problems its going to face.

Non the less, it would be quite nice to hear if the normal GM dealerships have the necessary paperwork and start the work on it, so I can ask my dealership here

Lol yeah I guess GM decided it was a good idea to use the same ignition components for 2 decades on just about every car they made. Like others have said the issue seems to be that if your key chain is to heavy the key can switch from the run position to off which then locks the steering wheel and shuts off the engine. Although my key chain isn't heavy at all and I can still pull the key out of the ignition on my Intrigue while it was running with very little effort.

As for the dealers having the paperwork. I'm not sure about the Alero, but I know they've already started fixing the issue on the HHR. One of the guys on the HHR forum said he had one in and his other one was going in the following week. So at least here in the U.S. you're probably going to be waiting for an appointment to get it taken care of.

[zzyzzx]

Do I need to make an appointment to pick up a keychain thingy?

[zzyzzx]

Something actually showed up on the GM recall webpage (https://recalls.gm.com/#/) today:


The following recalls have been found for your 1999 Oldsmobile Alero

Results last updated: Aug 07, 2014

GM Recall #: N140350 NHTSA Recall #:14V400 Date Issued: Jul 03, 2014

Recall Title:
Unintended Key Rotation (PENDING REMEDY) - * DRIVE WITH A SINGLE KEY ONLY *

Recall Description:
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in 2000-2005 MY Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2005 MY Chevrolet Malibu, 1999-2004 MY Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 MY Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 MY Pontiac Grand Am, and 2004-2008 MY Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. If the key ring is carrying added weight and the vehicle goes off road or experiences some other jarring event, it may unintentionally move the key away from the run position. If this occurs, engine power, power steering and power braking may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Safety Risk Description:
The timing of the key movement out of the run position, relative to the activation of the sensing algorithm of the crash event, may result in the airbags not deploying, increasing the potential for occupant injury in certain kinds of crashes. Until the recall has been performed, it is very important that customers remove all items from their key ring, leaving only the vehicle key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.

Repair Description:
Dealers are to install two key rings and key cover on all ignition keys free of charge.

Recall Status: INCOMPLETE. Remedy not yet available.





I have a recall but there is no immediate remedy, what should I do?
If there is no remedy yet, then GM is working diligently to identify the necessary repair procedures and/or obtain parts. You will be notified via written communication when the repair procedure or parts are available. You can also check back at this website or your dealer.

[falloutboy]

Thanks :)
much obliged

[aleros_eat_rice]

So a keyring and cover are all that they're doing?

[zzyzzx]

So a keyring and cover are all that they're doing?

Yes. Laughable, but true just the same.