1997 Oldsmobile AuroraRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

“ON MARCH 4, 2004, A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR MY CAR - COMPONENTS FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V110000. NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA04003. I WENT TO THE DEALER IN 2004 AND THEY REPLACED MY FUEL RAIL. THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE FUEL RETURN LINE. THE RECALL STATES "ADDITIONALLY, THE 1995 MODEL YEAR USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY CRACK. CRACKING OF THE FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSEQUENCE: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE." MY CAR IS A 1997. THE RETURN LINE HAS, SO FAR, CRACKED FOUR TIMES AND EACH TIME I WAS FORTUNATE TO NOT HAVE THE CAR CATCH ON FIRE WHILE I DROVE TO MY MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO SPLICE IT. IT IS NOW TOO SHORT TO SPLICE ANYMORE AND I HAVE NO DOUBT IT WILL CRACK AGAIN. TODAY I WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF THE LINE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. IT IS THE SAME DANGEROUS PROBLEM FOR WHICH THE 1995 AURORA WAS RECALLED. I AM RETIRED AND LIVING SOLELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY. I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO GET THIS FIXED (THE DEALER SAID MINIMUM $500 AND COULD…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A FUEL ODOR WITHIN THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT THE ENGINE BEING STARTED. THE CONTACT HAD TO REMOVE THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS, FUEL PUMP, AND SPARK PLUGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INQUIRED IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 197,000.”

“I OWN A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA, ON 4/25/2009 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES. I PULLED OVER AND LUCKILY MY MOTHER WAS FOLLOWING AND SHE HAD EXTINGUISHER IN HER VEHICLE. I TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT FIRE WAS CAUSED BY REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKING OIL DIRECTLY ONTO EXHAUST PIPE AND THAT THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN FOR THAT AND THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT IN THAT SEAL THAT'S WHY THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. IT TURNS OUT AFTER MUCH RESEARCH THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THE MANUFACTURE ALLOWED TO PUT A DEFECT PART IN THE VEHICLE THAT PUTS CONSUMERS AT RISK AND NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. I HAD MY 2 YR OLD SON AND MY 4 MO OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. GM WAS REQUIRED TO FIX THE FUEL RAIL SYSTEM DUE TO FIRE SAFETY, I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM DESERVES THE SAME ATTENTION, SINCE OIL AND HEAT DO NOT MIX AS WELL IT'S JUST AS DANGEROUS, I WILL BE CONTACTING MY ATTORNEY GENERAL. PLEASE NOTE: GM HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL IS FAULTY AND WILL FAIL, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD. *TR”