Summary:
GM IS RECALLING 207,542 MY 1997-2003 BUICK REGAL AND PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 3.8L SUPERCHARGED V-6 ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET TEMPERATURES, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR EARLIER DEGRADATION OF THE FRONT ROCKER COVER GASKET AND EVENTUAL OIL SEEPAGE.
Manufacturer that filed the Recall:
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Consequence:
CERTAIN UNDERHOOD FIRES MAY BE CAUSED BY DROPS OF ENGINE OIL, FROM SEEPAGE OR SPILLAGE, BEING DEPOSITED ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THROUGH HARD BRAKING. IF THE MANIFOLD IS HOT ENOUGH AND THE OIL RUNS BELOW THE HEAT SHIELD, IT MAY IGNITE INTO A SMALL FLAME AND, IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FIRE MAY SPREAD TO THE PLASTIC SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL AND BEYOND.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FRONT (LEFT) ROCKER COVER GASKET WITH AN IMPROVED DESIGN FROM THE ORIGINAL GASKET AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG WIRE CHANNEL WITH NEW RETAINERS. DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY, OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTERS WILL BE MAILED IN TWO PHASES. THE CUSTOMER LETTERS FOR THE 1997-2000 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL BE MAILED ON APRIL 28, 2008. GM WILL ADVISE AS TO WHEN THE OWNER LETTERS FOR THE 2001-2003 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES WILL BE MAILED. UNTIL SUFFICIENT PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE, GM STRONGLY RECOMMENDS THAT OWNERS OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT PRECAUTIONS (1) THEY STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT OWNERS DO NOT PARK THEIR VEHICLE IN A GARAGE, CAR PORT, OR OTHER STRUCTURE; (2) IF OWNERS NOTICE A BURNING ODOR, THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT CHARGE; (3) USE PREMIUM FUEL (91 OCTANE OR HIGHER) IN THE VEHICLE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE VEHICLE'S OWNER MANUAL. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
