1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER Electrical System Problems

CAR KEEPS HAVING ITS BATTERY DRAINED AFTER REPAIRS. REPLACED TWO ALTERNATORS AND A CAR COMPUTER. SEEMS TO WORK FOR A FEW WEEKS AFTER GETTING FIXED AND THEN BURNS UP AN ALTERNATOR. THREE TIMES TO THE MECHANIC; CURRENTLY SHOP. PROBLEM OCCURRED AFTER NEW BATTERY WAS INSERTED. CAR HAS WORKED GREAT FOR 10 YEARS AND THEN THIS REQUIRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM; BATTERY IS DEAD (THIS WITH A NEW BATTERY). *TR

Mileage: 126,000

WIRING HARNESS IN STEERING COLUMN REPLACED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING CAR NEW IN 1999. THIS PAST SUMMER PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. REPLACE RELAY. FALL PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ALL LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. REPLACED WIRING HARNESS AGAIN. 1 MONTH LATER WOKE TO FIND LIGHTS ON AGAIN REPLACED RELAY. 2/4/06 WOKE TO FIND PARKING LIGHTS ON AGAIN. REMOVED RELAY. WALKED BACK INSIDE, LOOKED OUT TO SEE HEADLIGHTS ON. HAD TO UNHOOK BATTERY. DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO.........MECHANICS AT A LOSS. INCIDENT DATE BELOW IS A GUESS. *JB

POWER STEERING FAILURE. *BF THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE RACK AND PINION. THE CONSUMER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH. *SC *JB

Mileage: 69,000

KEY STUCK IN ACCESSORY POSITION, UNABLE TO REMOVE KEY. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER NEEDED REPLACEMENT, NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, (FOR WHICH WE PAID EXTRA). REPLACEMENT COST $294.00 (WITH A SMALL COURTESY DISCOUNT) AND NO GUARANTEE OF PROBLEM NOT REOCCURING. THIS CERTAINLY IS NOT A USUAL PROBLEM AND NOT THE FIRST EXACT SAME COMPLAINT LOGGED WITH NHTSA-HOW MANY MORE ARE NEEDED TO REALIZE THERE'S A PROBLEM? ALSO, HOW MANY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, BUT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THIS AGENCY OR HOW TO GET THE INFO TO YOU?

Mileage: 45,295

IGNITION KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION SWITCH. CAR MAY BE IN ACCESSORY USE OR COMPLETELY OFF BUT KEY REMAINS. AT TIMES THE KEY CAN'T BE REMOVED EASILY AND MUST BE LEFT IN THE CAR. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT IS NOT A SAFTEY ISSUE, WHICH CAN'T BE TRUE. IF THE CAR CAN'T BE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF THERE IS A FIRE SAFETLT ISSUE. COST OF REPAIR IS $390. CHEVY SHOULD PAY FOR THE NEW IGNITION SWITCH ($189) AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PERVASIVE FAILURE MECHANISM.*AK

Mileage: 24,950

WHEN THE IGNITION LOCK IS IN THE OFF POSITION IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE KEY. YOU NEED TO WIGGLE THE KEY AROUND TO GET THE KEY OUT.*AK

DEALERSHIP SAID THIS PART HAS FAILED ON MANY CARS, HOWEVER THERE IS NO RECALL. *AK

THE BATTERY FAILED. NLM

KEY COULD NOT BE RELEASED FROM IGNITION SWITCH. KEY WILL NOT TURN INTO THE LOCKED POSITION TO BE RELEASED. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO FIX DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. FEELFREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON THE HIGHWAYAND ANOTHER VEHICLE DIDN'T YIELD AND VEERED INTO HER VEHICLE, AND FORCE HER OFF THE ROAD. THEN SHE WENT INTO A UTILITY POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK ALSO HORN IS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *YH