Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||||
| 010235009A | 08/01/2003 | 0010235009 | 10004353 | Steering column to instrument panel fastener removal. *tt | 12/03/2003 |
| 990232007 | 09/01/1999 | 733208 | 608376 | This bulletin addresses concerns of steering vibration / shudder / moan during parking maneuvers on dry pavement. *tt | 11/24/1999 |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| RQ03001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 01/02/2003 | 09/15/2003 | POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE | ||
| Gm conducted a safety recall (nhtsa # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). the recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans sport, chevrolet lumina apv, chevrolet venture, oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and chevrolet cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019. | ||||||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | ||||||
| RQ03001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 01/02/2003 | 09/15/2003 | POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE | ||
| Gm conducted a safety recall (nhtsa # 02v286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). the recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 pontiac grand prix vehicles built between march 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997, 1996-1998 pontiac trans sport, chevrolet lumina apv, chevrolet venture, oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and chevrolet cavalier and pontiac sunfire sedans built between january 1, 1996 and october 31, 1997.odi opened this rq after receiving reports that other vehicles were exhibiting the same symptoms as the recalled vehicles.based on odi's review of technical and complaint data collected during the rq, the w-cars are associated with either a higher steering complaint rate or a higher lpb failure rate than the other vehicles investigated under the rq and are above or near the rates for the recalled vehicles.thus, odi will further examine the w-cars (1996-1997 oldsmobile cutlass supreme, 1996-1998 buick regal, chevrolet lumina, chevrolet monte carlo, 1997-1998 buick century, and 1998 oldsmobile intrigue) under a new investigation, engineering analysis (ea)03-019. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 05/01/2002 | 1 | ||
| At 70 mph vehicle began to slow down a lot, then stalled. towed to dealer, antifreeze flooded engine, causing the engine to seize.*ak. consumer was forced off the road by an 18 wheeler because vehicle had started slowing and consumer could not get vehicle to respond. loss of steering accompanied the sudden decelleration. *jg | |||
| STEERING - COLUMN | |||
| 07/20/1999 | 2 | ||
| Tilt column got stuck in highest position. nlm | |||
| STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) | |||
| 01/01/1901 | 57491 | 1 | |
| Steering gear bracket broke on 1997 buick park avenue.*mr the consumer has given copies of the repair bill and the statement from enterprise for the three days it took to repair the vehicle, to the dealership for considering a reimbursement. *cb | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | |||
| 11/10/1999 | 400 | 09/01/1997 | |
| Factory replacement of defective seat belt retractor sept 1998 same as before. this dangerous problem persists; service manager told me that buick could do nothing. passenger can extend seat belt, but it often folds & jams, leaving 1-2 ft of loose belt which voids the safety of seat belt. warped brake rotors were replaced. the defective power steering problem is a known defect to buick who has last week suggested a trial of changing hoses. | |||
| 11/10/1999 | 2 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Power steering hoses malfunctioned. yh | |||
| 02/03/1998 | 1 | ||
| Hose clamp failed resulting in leakage. nlm | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| While drivng at low speeds the steering wheel binds making wheel hard to turn. the dealership cannot determine the cause of the problem. please provide more details. ts | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 01/22/2003 | 97500 | 2 | 12/19/2002 |
| 1-23-3 id like to report a problem with a general motors engine, more specifically the bolts they're using on the 3800 series 2 v-6 (probably a cheap priced chinese product). i asked at my buick dealership if they send information to gm about a problem a vehicle is having if they see it as dangerous or see it more than once and the guy laughed... ha ha real funny. meanwhile people like me fix a problem that might be eligible for a recall, or at minimum gm could quit buying defective bolts to use on the 3800 series 2 engine before someone gets killed when suddenly they can't control a 3000 pound vehicle going down the highway. i have a 1997 buick park avenue (97,000 miles). i'm driving down the road and all of the sudden my power steering pump just falls off of the car, yes it literally fell off. i sent it too my local buick dealer for repair. they are for some reason out of the bolt that he said sheared itself off. the next day i call the buick repair shop to ask about it since they have to wait on the part, and he calls me mr. gray. i tell him my actual name and he apologizes and informs me that there's another guy's car in there at the moment who had that exact same thing happened to his car,... his power steering pump fell off too. this is a safety hazard because the car all of the sudden steers like a tractor with flat tires, fortunately i was only going 25 mph when it happened to me. a smaller man or woman could not likely handle controlling it, and god help them if they're on the interstate doing 70. and yet the dealership says they don't have a way or system set up with general motors to report stuff like this. how is gm supposed to know? hope you can help save people before we hear about this on the news as a tragedy. thanks... ken mcclelland | |||
| 06/11/1999 | |||
| Power steering bolts broke at pump, resulting in a loss of control. on 5/28/98 owner experienced the same problem. the dealer has repired vehicle. manufacturer has been notified. *ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 03/01/2004 | 100000 | 1 | |
| While driving at 35 mph and with out any warning steering wheel failed. vehicle was taken to the dealer. mechanic indicated the belt broke. *ak | |||
| 2 | 08/01/1997 | ||
| Power steering grinding noise in front of vehicle , replacement of the high pressure hose has helped some of the noise. mjs | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 12/13/2000 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Item 1. returning home, play developed in the steering wheel. with the car parked in driveway, during investigation , the steering wheel totally disconnected from the steering rack, so the car was no longer steerable. dealer said the steering wheel shaft had separated from the rack input, but could not understand how this could happen. rack assembly had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles beause of oil leaks. item 2. taking car home from dealer after engine oil leak repair, there was much play, 1/3 turn, in steering wheel. dealer diagnosed problem as broken mounting ear on steering rack and pinion, requiring replacement of rack assembly. rack assemble had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles due to oil leaks.*ak | |||
| 10/11/2000 | 1 | ||
| Rack and pinion steering is binding due to defective parts. *ak | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 12/13/2000 | 1 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Item 1. returning home, play developed in the steering wheel. with the car parked in driveway, during investigation , the steering wheel totally disconnected from the steering rack, so the car was no longer steerable. dealer said the steering wheel shaft had separated from the rack input, but could not understand how this could happen. rack assembly had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles beause of oil leaks. item 2. taking car home from dealer after engine oil leak repair, there was much play, 1/3 turn, in steering wheel. dealer diagnosed problem as broken mounting ear on steering rack and pinion, requiring replacement of rack assembly. rack assemble had been replaced 03/28/97, 2101 miles due to oil leaks.*ak | |||
| 07/20/1999 | 2 | ||
| Tilt column got stuck in highest position. nlm | |||
| 07/01/1998 | 1 | 06/02/1997 | |
| Steering wheel loose causing power steering to be inaffective and vehicle to loose control. | |||
| 10/17/1997 | |||
| While driving between 60 and 70 mph, the steering wheel and vehicle vibrates. cause is unknown. dealer replaced all four tires but it did not correct problem. | |||
| 02/14/1998 | 1 | 02/15/1997 | |
| Steering wheel broke free from steering system. | |||