Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1998 - Steering - car safety information, failing parts, recalls, bulletins, complaints

Chevrolet Monte Carlo 1998

Recalls
Technical Service Bulletins
Defect investigations
Consumer Complaints

Recalls

Campaign	Manufacturer	Manufacturing date	Type	# of units affected	Date Owner notified Mfg	Recall Initiated by	Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products	Report Recieved Date	Record Creation Date
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
03V527000	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	from 04/01/1997 to 10/31/1997	V (Vehicle)	750283	02/05/2004	ODI	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	12/11/2003	12/18/2003
Defect Summary	Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. these retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
Consequence Summary	If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. if the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. if the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. with the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. in any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
Corrective Summary	Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. owner notification began on february 5, 2004. owners should contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537; or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Notes	Gm recall no. 03062.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration

Bulletins

Bulletin	Bulletin date	Replacement Bulletin	Item no.	Summary	Added
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
01292004	01/29/2004		10013031	Power steering gear lower pinion bearing, safety recall 03062. *tt	04/06/2005

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.
EA03019	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	09/15/2003	12/18/2003	POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE	03V527000
	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.
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
EA03019	GENERAL MOTORS CORP.	09/15/2003	12/18/2003	POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE	03V527000
	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.
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
		2	06/30/1998
	Steering rubs and makes noise at slow speeds when turning left or right.
		2	10/17/1997
	Steering stiff and heavy, vehicle constantly steers to the left. also cruise control does not operate properly.

	Rubbing noise from wheel area klunks at times when turning a slow speeds, installed restrictor in p/s return line, reduced noise, but is still present, gm is investigating possible correction
STEERING - COLUMN
09/08/2004		1
	Consumer was pulling inside of a parking lot and the steering wheel failed to steer. consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that the solenoid switch needed to be replaced. *ak
STEERING - COLUMN LOCKING - ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
01/10/2004	87000	1
	When making a left/right turns steering wheel intermittently locked up. dealerships mechanic was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
STEERING - GEAR BOX - SHAFT PITMAN
03/02/2004		1	12/29/1997
	Have gm press release on 1997-1998 monte carlo on steering gear problem stating that gm would be recall some 824,000 cars. my 1998 monte carlo is experencing this problem and i have repeatly tried to get gm to address this problem with the exception of on 24 feb. 2004 when i was told to bring in my car to my local gm dealer and the car would be fixed. one week had passed and i heard nothing from gm so i called and now they tell me it is not thier problem. however they still have an active recall but state my car is not in the recall.*ak
STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
08/23/2004	94000	1
	When making a left hand turn at 5 mph vehicle lost power steering. consumer pulled over, and had the vehicle towed. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak
10/15/1997		1
	Rubbing noise from wheel area, klunks at times when turning at slow speeds, restrictor in power steering return line installed to correct the problem, however the problem continues, unable to rectify.
STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

	While backing out of a parking space inner tie rod broke, causing the front tires to turn inward. *ak
STEERING - RACK AND PINION
10/24/2003	26759	1	10/04/1999
	1998 monte carlo :complained of growling noise at low speed turns; also, not mentioned to shop but was told by friend that he thought the wheel was harder to turn then other vehicles. shop informed me that rack and pinion needed to be replaced. i checked the service manual to find out why it could not be reconditioned but stopped after seeing that there was a existing problem being investigated about faulty rack and pinions. note this vehicle only has 26000 miles on it. *la
02/26/2003		1
	Rack and pinion was deemed faulty by my certified mechanic. the vehicle has only 55,000 miles on it.*jb

	When oil was changed noticed lots of fluids leaking. dealer stated rack and pinion needed to be replaced. please provide further information. *ak

	Clunking noise in front end at low speeds/ car wanders from straight line - like torque steer/ cruise control accelerates car radically when you press resume.
10/06/1997		1	09/26/1997
	Poor rack and pinon steering causing vehicle to pull.
STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR
04/01/1999			01/01/1999
	Rubbing noise in steering wheel-clunks upon slightly moving vehicle-reported problem to holiday chevrolet in farmington hills-tore apart dash found nothing still making noise reported to gm along with other problems( dot number: )