Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STEERING
08E063000DORMAN PRODUCTS, INC. E (Equipment)385510/16/2008MFRGENERAL MOTORS CORP.10/17/200810/20/2008
Defect SummaryDorman products is recalling 3,900 intermediate steering shafts dorman part nos. 425-151, 425-152, and 425-153, (sold under dorman's oe solutions brand name), balkamp #'s 7-3057, 7-3058, 7-3059 (sold under the napa brand name), and platinum parts #'s 2425151, 2425152, and 2425153 manufactured during the month of september 2007. these replacement steering shafts can be used on the vehicles listed above. the weld connecting the inner tube to the outer tube may be defective.
Consequence SummaryIf the weld fails, loss of steering could result, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Corrective SummaryDorman will notify owners and replace the steering shafts free of charge. the recall began on october 16, 2008. owners may contact dorman toll free at 1-800-523-2492.
NotesThis recall only pertains to dorman's oe solutions brand name, balkamp's napa brand, and the platinum brand steering shafts and has no relation to any original equipment installed on vehicles manufactured by general motors corporation.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STEERING
010232001F02/01/200610019516Clunk felt/noise heard from steering column, steering gear and/or front of vehicle during turning maneuver and/or steering wheel rotation. *tt03/21/2006
040235004D11/01/2005040235004C10008657Clunk noise from front of vehicle during turning maneuver/steering wheel rotation. *tt *nm08/13/2004
010232001C09/01/2003010232001B10004280Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle during a turning maneuver. *tt12/01/2003
020232012A06/01/200302023201210002834Rattle/knock noise when turning while driving over rough roads. *tt09/26/2003
02023201210/01/200210000176Rattle / knock noise when turning while driving over rough roads. *tt02/14/2003
010232001B07/01/2002010203001A634803Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle during a turning maneuver. *tt10/09/2002
05110111/05/2001628094Some vehicles may exhibit a clunk type noise especially felt in the steering wheel while turning. *tt03/05/2002
15090009/15/2000619039This message concerns vehicles exhibiting a clunk noise coming from the front of the vehicle. customers may state that a clunk noise is heard when turning the steering wheel. *tt05/11/2001
18010101/18/2001618179Information on diagnosing clunk or bump noise usually heard when turning emitting from the front of the vehicle. this condition may also be felt through the steering wheel of vehicle with the car in park or moving slowly and the steering04/06/2001
02060102/06/2001618119Customers may complain of a clunk noise from front end of the vehicle during turning maneuvers or steering wheel rotation. *jb04/04/2001
01-02-32-00104/01/2008010232001O618086Concerns with clunk noise from front of vehicle turning maneuver / steering wheel rotation.*jb (lubricate or replace intermediate shaft as appropriate). updated 10/05/07. *nj updated 4/1/08. *nj updated 7/1/2008 *pe04/03/2001
STEERING - COLUMN
07023200608/01/200710022926Clunk felt/noise heard from steering column, steering gear and/or front of vehicle during turning maneuver and/or steering wheel rotation (lubricate intermediate shaft [i-shaft]). *nj10/05/2007

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STEERING
01/01/200320000
 Whenever the steering wheel is turned a clunk can be heard and felt. this happened back in about 2003 and still continues to this day. on second complaint, odometer numbers no longer show up properly. only when pressure is applied to the odometer area do the numbers light up.
10/02/2002104/17/2001
 2001 chevrolet cavalier makes a click noise in front end when turning hard right. *ts the vehicle stalled. the next day, the consumer had the vehicle towed and the dealer replaced the fuel pump. the steering gear was replaced. the valve cover gasket, control arm bushings and struts were replaced. *jb
10/28/2004530001
 Clunking felt in steering when turning. *ak
04/10/200237000101/01/2001
 At about 34,000 miles the steering case started making a clicking noise, i took it to the dealer and they told me it was nothing, they lubed something. after that the noise went away but just a couple of months later i started feeling a clanking noise in the steering, it turns out when i took it in for my annual inspection the mechanic states in about a year or two the steering will no longer work. turns out a friend of mine had the same problem with steering, while coming out of their driveway, they couldn't turn the wheel, they eventually had too change the steering case in the car. what happens if a person is on the highway and no longer can steer the car, the results would be catastrophic. *la
 Constant noise is coming from front tires. mechanic stats cause of noise is steering rod failure. *ak
08/15/2001107/01/2001
 The steering makes lots of noises. major steering components have been replaced, yet the problems still exists. my 4th attempt to have the problem repaired, resulted in the service technician advising me to continue driving the car until the steering gets worse. he claimed the noises are not loud enough, nor frequent enough to be repaired. i say it is very frightening to hear such noises when steering the car, especially at higher speeds (45+). i no longer drive the vehicle, it is parked and will remain so until i am assured that it is safe to drive.*ak
STEERING - COLUMN
01/01/2000112/08/2000
 Air/heat fan, steering column ,brakes, engine. *la
STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
05/15/20014
 A noise was coming from dashboard during normal operation. dealership examined vehicle three times, and could not correct problem. on the fourth examination,dealership replaced steering gear box which corrected the noise problem. *ak
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP
02/20/200428000111/01/2002
 While parked for several hours vehicle caught on fire and burned to the ground. the manufacturer indicated that the cause of the fire was due friction on a loose power steering pulley.*ak consumer attempted to start engine, but it wouldn't turn over. consumer felt that battery appeared to be dead. manufacturer's inspector said that the fire was caused by the friction from loose pulley on power steering pump. *la
11/21/20031511/27/2000
 My car since i bought it(2001 z24 cavalier) has given me problem after problem. piston rods failing, fuel pump leaking, crankshaft failure, gear box bent causing me to only start car in neutral and can't park on hills. also... valves have broken numerous times, engine accelerates on its own, fuel gauge was broken, power steering pump leaking, sunroof shattered on me... everything has broken on this brand new car i bought. the dealership will not help me even under warranty... i got a lemon and they want me to keep it. so many problems i cant list them all... most recently i was driving with my 11 month old son and we just got the car out of the shop after 14 days repair on a valve, and the next day we were driving and the engine seized up on me and brakes, and i had to use the emergency brake to stop us from crashing. i had the car towed in and the connected some hose they forgot to connect and told me to leave. after we almost could of died, i will not get into the vehicle that i am still have to pay for too. i wish someone could help me! (incident date is most recent occurrence) *la
08/14/2002102/01/2001
 While sitting still, vehicle was rear ended. as a result of collision power steering belt flew off. vehicle had to be towed to dealership. *ak jlg
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
12/02/2005509/09/2001
 Replaced fuel pump twice within the last 3 yrs. steering component three times. fuel tank once. makes noise when turning from power steering leak, and also has oil leak. the car only has 93,000 miles. only four years old. 01 cavalier bought from terry lee chevy. this car sucks!!!never buy again!!!! nothing was done to fix half the stuff wrong. tlc sucks. oh yeah i forgot the sending unit will be replaced for the second time inn three years. *jb
STEERING - LINKAGES - ARM - IDLER AND ATTACHMENT
02/01/2001
 After 500 miles vehicle started making a loud noise. dealer later replaced alternator and idle arm. vehicle continued grinding noise, and dealer replaced parts of clutch and transmission. also, dealer advised consumer that gmc was aware of problem, but no remedy has been issued. dealer will not process further repairs. *ak
STEERING - LINKAGES - KNUCKLE - SPINDLE - ARM
01/18/2001308/01/2000
 I keep taking my car back to the dealer for the same problems with my windshield fogging up, especially when it rains and the defogger does not help; i still have problems with a squeling noise in my tires, and my steering column, steering column makes a high pitched sound when in reverse; my drivers window has locked up on me twice; when i first took the car to be checked for my tires they said the manufacture did not install the nuts and bolts correctly and the same with my steering column and they said they were fix but they are not!!!!! ; i am getting sick and tired of having to take my car back to the dealer, it seems to be every 3-4 weeks now; the last time i took the car the kept it all day and said they could not find out what was wrong. please warn people about these cars i know i am not the only one with these problems; every time i go to the dealership there are at least 2 other people with almost the same problems or has already had the problem i have.
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
02/24/200747000105/16/2003
 Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 2001 chevrolet cavalier with 47000 failure mileage at 25 mph he made a left turn and the vehicle began to vibrate. the contact pulled the vehicle onto the side of the road, looked under the vehicle and noticed that there was a puddle of power steering fluid on the ground. the vehicle was towed home, and the contact took the wheel off, filled the vehicle with power steering fluid, and noticed it was leaking from the rack and pinion. the dealer had not been contacted, and the vehicle had not been repaired. *ak
03/03/20051
 While driving approximately 50 mph, the consumer lost control of the steering. upon inspection, the consumer was told the rack and pinion had failed. *jb
06/19/200133451
 Whenever the steering wheel is moved there will be a clanking sound in the steering column. consumer claims that steering is some times loose at any speed. dealer examined the vehicle, and claimed that a rack and pinion steering column was needed.*ak
01/16/200311317109/09/2000
 Accident occurred possible result of loss of power steering when making left hand turns. *mr the consumer was knocked unconscious due to the impact of the accident. the only thing the consumer could remember was making a left had turn into a shopping center. witnesses stated that the vehicle was moving slow when the incident occurred. the consumer suggested that this accident may be related to recall#02v286000. the seat belts failed as well. *sc *jb
01/16/200436000106/13/2003
 This complaint is similar to gm's recent recall. when making mostly left turns at low speeds i get clicks on the steering wheel. it now is starting on right turns. i purchased the 2001 cavalier with under 36,000 mi . it now has a little over 37,000 mi. *cb
09/15/2002405/10/2002
 At 35,500 miles front steering started making a popping noise while turning corners. a few days later, the abs light came on and would not reset. car was taken to dealership where the abs master computer was replaced. and steering was lubed. at 37,000 miles popping came back, dealership said that since it was no longer under warranty, they were not responsible for it. also, at 45,000 miles the brakes were shaking, after investigation, mechanic stated that rotors were warped and needed to be replaced. i have had this car for 18 months and am looking at having to replace the rack and pinion system and i only have 55,000 miles on the car now. then today, my airbag warning light has begun to stay on. am going to have to go, once again, to the dealership for fear that airbags won't inflate in collision. *la
09/30/20024500008/10/2001
 Rack and pinion unit makes a clunking noise when i turn the steering wheel. cavaliers in general seem to have a problem with steering units and should be looked into why the problems have been on-going for years. technical service bulletins from 1992 to today list a history of steering unit problems with this model.
09/06/2001202/01/2000
 Brand new car, 2 rack and pinion steering put in it within a years time, popping sound coming from front end, maybe coming from transmission. *ak
STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK
02/21/2001
 Rack & pinion steering kept going out. this causes vehicle to jerk left. this was second time it has happened. had the problem repaired previously, but has reappeared again. did not lose control of vehicle.*ak
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
10/01/2000
 I have returned my vehicle three times for a repeat problem with the transmission. i continue to hear, after each repair is tried, grinding in the gears while shifting. the volume on the radio goes down while turning it up. both myself and my passengers have heard creaking in the steering column of my vehicle while turning at low speeds. these are all contiual problems that the dealership can't seem to repair or even notice.*ak