Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 030232049 | 11/01/2003 | 10004765 | Release of new outer tie rod ends for service. *tt | 01/06/2004 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | ||||||
| EA02003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/04/2002 | 12/10/2002 | POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE | 02V286000 | |
| The lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering assembly may fail.gm will recall 1997-98 grand prix built between 1-mar-96 and 31-oct-97; and 1996-98 u-vans/j-cars built between 1-jan-96 and 31-oct-97.see attached summary. | ||||||
| PE01038 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 11/14/2001 | 04/04/2002 | STEERING RACK AND PINION | ||
| Allege that while driving and without warning, the steering rack and pinion can either bind or lock up, which makes steering difficult | ||||||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | ||||||
| EA02003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 04/04/2002 | 12/10/2002 | POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE | 02V286000 | |
| The lower pinion bearing in the rack and pinion steering assembly may fail.gm will recall 1997-98 grand prix built between 1-mar-96 and 31-oct-97; and 1996-98 u-vans/j-cars built between 1-jan-96 and 31-oct-97.see attached summary. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING | |||
| 06/15/2002 | 113000 | ||
| Our cyl head gaskets had to be replaced and our cyl heads had to be machined, we also had to replace our fuel pump at the same time | |||
| 05/15/2001 | 39000 | ||
| At 51000 miles the 3.4l engine had lower intake gasket failure in which the dex-cool anti freeze dumped into the crankcase mixing with the oil. this only had one warning a couple months earlier as the low coolant light came on and i added 1/2 gallon dex-cool with no signs of leakage. next time it happened was when my wife was taking daughter to school and temp. light came on. van was not driven over 2 miles to dealer, as light went out. dealer said extreme mixture in both crankcase and radiator. recommended replace radiator, waterpump, intake gaskets, flush both systems at a cost of 1500 not to be applied toward engine replacement if failure on start up. dealer had just had van in week before for check engine light and steering recall and found nothing wrong !!!! we traded it in at a loss as i checked into the problem and learned about thousands of other owners with same problems with total engine failures after repairs made. we lost over $3000 equity between what trade value would have been if no problem with engine and letting dealer fix problem after trade. van had many problems since we bought it new but we always had them fixed and was well maintained. looked new when we traded with only 50,000 miles. paint on hood blistered twice, steering / brakes wobbled since new at varyng speeds, always had ticking sound in engine dealer said was "normal", rear seats would jamb up if you tried to remove, wiper arms failed twice, serpentine belt tensioner broke off on engine start up in dec. 2002. cost $375 with towing, power window switch failed in down position at replacement cost of about $175. engine under warranty when it had a severe gas smell that nearly caused a fire in about 1999. they kept it a week and never said what the problem was. they had just worked on it for ticking sound. (probably intake gaskets then also). gm was no help after warranty was up. | |||
| 05/15/2003 | 87000 | ||
| My vehicle was taken to; tinney chevrolet, 11249 w. carson city rd., greenville, mi 48838 for two (2) ea. recall notices; 1) power sliding door 2) steering bushing results of recalls: 1) power sliding door worked fine till one week after tinney servie dept. worked on it. (doesn't work with power buttons @ all now ) 2) upon picking-up vehicle from the steering (bushing) repair we noticed that steering wheel was cocked to left, steers hard & pulls to right tinney chevrolet was notified of both problems and said that they had nothing to do with problems. the vehicle was fine prior to taking it to them for the recalls. upon confronting them the second time, we were informed to check our own fuses etc. | |||
| 12/15/2002 | 0 | ||
| The day before i took the van in for repairs it stopped on me and i coasted home with hardly no brakes and bad steering.the repairs that i was about to have done was for a leaking intake gasket.i did not know what had happened until i read about the same thing happening with other people.some people call it vapor lock. if there would have been people or other cars in my way this could have turned very bad. all the gm dealers say that this is a common problem. when i call gm they say they never heard about it. something needs to be done now about this problem. thank you , scott eggebrecht | |||
| 10/06/2000 | 1 | ||
| While pulling out of a driveway steering will would not turn to left, but it would turn to the right. consumer feels he was lucky there was not any traffic, vehicle could have crashsed.*ak the consumer thinks that the steering problem is due to defect. *yh | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||
| 08/02/2004 | 3 | ||
| Consumer complained about having all kinds of problems with vehicle. firstly, transmission malfunctioned, and it was repaired. secondly, power steering fluid was leaking, and consumer kept replacing it. thirdly, there was a gasoline leak, which was repaired.*ak | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - PUMP | |||
| 07/10/1999 | |||
| While driving over water puddles or in the rain power steering belt slips, causing loss of steering until it dries off. please provide further information. *ak | |||
| 08/01/1997 | 1 | 07/28/1997 | |
| Serpentine belt fails causing loss of power steering assist when driving in wet weather. | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 02/12/1997 | ||
| When driving in wet weather, the power steering pump and belt get wet, and slip. the power steering will lock at this point and will resume within a few seconds. | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 02/12/1997 | ||
| Power steering locks up on wet roads. | |||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | |||
| 12/15/2002 | 1 | ||
| The power steering failed. *jb | |||
| 1 | |||
| Was driving in the rain & went through a puddle. this caused power steering to go out, and lost control. but there was no accident. finally, went to a dealership & mechanic indicated that shield was missing. missing shield caused water to get inside the steering area. mechanic replaced the shield. *ak | |||
| 01/14/2000 | 04/16/1997 | ||
| Rack and pinion power steering mechanism disintegrated without warning, failure of power steering pump. causing loss of steering. dealer has repaired vehicle. *ak *ml | |||
| 07/16/1999 | 1 | 03/01/1998 | |
| The first problem is a clunking in the gas tank when it is over 1/2 a tank but less than full. when coming to a gentle stop, forward or reverse, the tank makes a physical 'thunk'. i have had the vehicle in to repair the problem 5 times now. the dealership has tried isolation pads, tightening fasteners, installing structural bracing straps, and even replaced the gas tank. all to no avail. this problem has been going on for almost 2 years now. i am at a loss as to what to do now. the second problem was with my serpentine belt. i was on my way home from work and i suddenly lost my power steering going into a 90 degree turn. i navigated through it, and the dealer retrieved my van the next morning. they found that the serpentine belt was shredded with no explanation. they replaced it, and i have not had a problem in that area since. | |||
| 08/14/1999 | 4 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Loss of power steering during wet conditions. other conditions noise for belt and battery light on. | |||
| 07/22/1998 | 08/10/1998 | ||
| Loss of power steering when driving in rain. | |||
| 09/10/1998 | 5 | 06/01/1997 | |
| The power steering will quit for 10 seconds when driving in rain or splashing through water puddle. brakes did not work properly. first brake repair, dealer bled air out of system. second brake repair, dealer replaced rear slave seals. | |||
| 09/23/1997 | |||
| Consumer has been experiencing problems with power steering.everytime water splashes onto the driveblet, the power steering goes out. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| 08/01/1997 | 1 | 07/28/1997 | |
| Power steering fails continually in wet weather. | |||
| 11/27/1997 | |||
| Power steering fails after vehicle goes through the slightest level of standing water because wate spashes on the single accessory drive belt and starts slipping. if the vehicle goes through more than the slightest level of standing water, the engine cuts off. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Power steering fails temporarily after going throgh water. (qcaw) | |||
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||
| 03/25/1997 | 1 | ||
| Missing bolt caused tie rod to come apart and stop vehicle. | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION | |||
| 10/30/2005 | 1 | 11/01/2004 | |
| Dt: the contact states when the vehicle was taken to dealer for repairs of the power steering rack the welds where the power steering rack bolted to the frame cracked. the vehicle has been repaired at the contacted expense. *ak | |||
| 02/05/2003 | 86014 | 1 | 06/01/1997 |
| The consumer was informed that no parts were available regarding the recall on the rack and pinion. *jb *scc | |||
| 11/01/2001 | |||
| A pin fell off from rack and pinion steering while traveling at 25 mph. consumer could not maintain control of vehicle.*ak | |||
| 06/14/2001 | 2 | 02/12/2000 | |
| Steering wheel would lock up when making a left turn. vehicle taken to dealer for inspection, and informed that rack and pinion steering was broken ,and needed replacement. *ak a nut had broken on the bottom of the rack and pinion system causing it to fall apart, the air bag coil was twisted also causing a bind up in the steering wheel. *slc | |||
| 08/16/2000 | 1 | 06/01/1997 | |
| Steering failed and locked up while vehicle was in motion due to failure of rack and pinion steering. total failure of steering.*ak | |||
| STEERING - RACK AND PINION - RACK | |||
| 10/31/2002 | 98000 | 1 | 03/13/1999 |
| Wife making left turn onto busy road, van would not respond to to turning the wheel. side impact at 40 mile + from semi. injuries sustained by wife, broken hip crushed left arm , fractured tail bone and fractured base of skull. daughter and friend also injured but released with minor injuries. we did not know there was a problem with the van until after the accident. that is when i recieved the recall notice. nothing could be done at this point because the van had been crushed into a cube of scrap metal. i waited this long to file a complant due to legal advice, but as you can see the big guy almost always wins. we recieved no compensation from gm. | |||
| STEERING - WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR | |||
| 02/01/2001 | |||
| While traveling on a side road and without prior warning was making a left turn steering locked up, preventing vehicle to move. vehicle was towed. dealership was aware of problem.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2001 | 0 | ||
| Consumer was pulling out of a parking lot and without prior warning steering wheel locked up and couldn't turn it. vehicle had to be towed. dealership was aware of problem. *ak | |||
| 09/28/2000 | 1 | 08/01/1997 | |
| Steering wheel locked up during curve, unable to turn wheel, van crached into canal. is considered totaled by insurance. *ak | |||
| 09/28/2000 | 1 | 08/28/1997 | |
| While making a turn steering wheel locked, causing a collision which totalled the vehicle.*ak | |||
| Upon turning into a parking lot traveling 10-15 mph, steering wheel locked up, causing loss of steering control. consumer contacted t dealer, delaer replaced the entire steering wheel and column. please provide any further details. *ak | |||
| 10/23/1999 | |||
| While making a turn steering wheel jerked and went to the right and locked up. the dealer is inspecting and repairing the vehicle. *ak | |||
| 03/07/1998 | 5 | ||
| When it rains the steering wheel locks up, and makes squeaking noises. dealer and manufacturer were contacted. *ak the vehicle was anable to steer when hit a puddle. *yh | |||