Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
9709013202B09/01/199754328Experiencing intermittent steering column snap or click noise when turning. *yc03/30/1998

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
STEERING
EA03019GENERAL MOTORS CORP.09/15/200312/18/2003POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE03V527000
 Gm's letter to nhtsa dated december 11, 2003, expands its original recall (nhtsa 02v286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.gm determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force.gm states, higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing.all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force.the 96 lumina/monte carlo and 97-98 century w-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall.
RQ03001GENERAL MOTORS CORP.01/02/200309/15/2003POWER 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
RQ03001GENERAL MOTORS CORP.01/02/200309/15/2003POWER 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.
EA03019GENERAL MOTORS CORP.09/15/200312/18/2003POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE03V527000
 Gm's letter to nhtsa dated december 11, 2003, expands its original recall (nhtsa 02v286) to include certain w-body vehicles: 96-97 olds cutlass supreme; 98 olds intrigue; 97-98 olds cutlass; 97-98 chevy lumina, monte carlo and malibu; 96 pontiac grand prix; and 96-98 buick regal.the number of vehicles recalled is 750,283.gm determined that failure of the rack and pinion is related to damage of the lower pinion bearing and the level of the pinion bearing pre-load spring force.gm states, higher rack pre-load spring force (133 lb.) is the design characteristic most closely associated with higher bearing damage rates in most of the vehicle applications that used the general bearing company (gbc) bearing.all of the vehicles covered in the expanded recall have the 133 lb spring force.the 96 lumina/monte carlo and 97-98 century w-body vehicles included in this investigation utilize a lower spring force and are not included in the recall.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STEERING - GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
09/29/2003116000
 While driving at normal speed steering gear box was leaking and vehicle caught on fire. dealer notified. *ak
08/01/1996107/03/1996
 Steering gear noise.
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
11/13/1998
 While drving on highway the vehicle loses all power assist. the vehicle has been brought back to the dealership 5 times in the last two years for this problem. the dealer is not able to correct. *ak
605/01/1996
 Power steering fails in rainy weather, causing loss of steering control.
09/12/1996
 Lost control of the steering which caused the car to end up in a side rollover and the air bags did not deploy. please give more detailed information. *ak
 When driving and at a stop light car stalls, there is no power steering. please describe . *ak
STEERING - LINKAGES
02/15/1999301/01/1996
 Ball joint and tie rod + front brakes replaced at 1st alternator - parts corroded and fused together 75k on orignial tires
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
01/14/2004508/10/1997
 Rack and pinion have had to be replaced 5 times. each time causes metal shavings in the power steering pump causing loss of steering. *cb