ABRUPT, TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL: AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, AND LOUD "BANG" WAS HEARD AND FELT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. CAUTIOUSLY MOVING OFF FROM THE STOP, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL; THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN FREELY, WHILE THE VEHICLE TRACKED ALMOST STRAIGHT…
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ABRUPT, TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL: AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, AND LOUD "BANG" WAS HEARD AND FELT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. CAUTIOUSLY MOVING OFF FROM THE STOP, THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL; THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SPUN FREELY, WHILE THE VEHICLE TRACKED ALMOST STRAIGHT AHEAD. SINCE THERE WAS STILL POWER AND BRAKING, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO ROLL TO A STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. (IF THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL HAD OCCURRED THREE MINUTES LATER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AT 65 MPH ... WITH POSSIBLY FATAL CONSEQUENCES.) IN THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, FRONT SUSPENSION, AND STEERING RACK ARE MOUNTED ON A SUBFRAME. THE SUBFRAME, IN TURN, IS ATTACHED TO THE PRIMARY STRUCTURAL FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WITH FOUR BOLTS M12X1.25 BOLTS; THE ATTACHMENTS INCLUDE RUBBER BUSHINGS TO PROVIDE SOME SHOCK ISOLATION BETWEEN THE SUBFRAME AND THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A STEEL SLEEVE WHICH INSERTS INTO THE INNER BORE OF THE ISOLATION BUSHINGS, AND THROUGH WHICH THE MOUNTING BOLT IS INSERTED. (SEE ILLUSTRATION FROM GENERAL MOTORS "1991 BUICK REGAL SERVICE MANUAL," P. 10.3.3, FIGURE 1.) THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN NO CORROSION PROTECTION PROVIDED OR APPLIED TO THESE SUBFRAME ATTACH COMPONENTS DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. UPON INSPECTION, THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAILURE OF BOTH REAR SUBFRAME ATTACHMENT BOLTS AND/OR ISOLATION BUSHINGS DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION IN SERVICE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE BOLT FAILURES, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SPRINGS FORCED THE REAR OF THE SUBFRAME DOWNWARD, RESULTING IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT DISCONNECTING ENTIRELY FROM THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA ODI #10393193
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2000
SeatsSuspensionUnknown Or Other
THE ODOMETER HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 75,000 MILES (1993). THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $200.00 AND SINCE I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW JUST HOW MANY MILES I HAD PUT ON IT SINCE IT QUIT, I THOUGHT "WHAT'S THE USE?" SO ANY AND ALL MILEAGE QUOTES FROM NOW ON ARE GUESSES.... THE TAPE PLAYER WILL NOT PLAY ANY TAPES, IT JUST EJECTS EVE…
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THE ODOMETER HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 75,000 MILES (1993). THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD COST AROUND $200.00 AND SINCE I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW JUST HOW MANY MILES I HAD PUT ON IT SINCE IT QUIT, I THOUGHT "WHAT'S THE USE?" SO ANY AND ALL MILEAGE QUOTES FROM NOW ON ARE GUESSES.... THE TAPE PLAYER WILL NOT PLAY ANY TAPES, IT JUST EJECTS EVERYTHING... THE TRIM KEEPS FALLING OFF AND I HAVE A STRIP OF CHROME IN THE BACK FLOORBOARD AS I TYPE THIS....BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR STRUTS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED....AND JUST LAST WEEK MY HUSBAND HAD TO BOLT THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FRAME.
NHTSA ODI #728895
Mileage unknown · May 9, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
BOTH REAR STRUTS FAILED CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. NLM
NHTSA ODI #552172
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1997
SuspensionTires
LEFT REAR CONTROL ARM FAILED WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL, VEHICLE WANDERED ALL OVER ROAD, UPON TURNING AT APPROX. 10MPH HEARD POP SOUND, VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE, LEFT REAR TIRE BENT INWARD, DUE TO CONTROL ARM SPLITTING IN HALF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #810861
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
BRAKES FAILED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA ODI #507917
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 1995
Suspension
WHEEL AXLE CRACKED, CAUSING WHEEL TO SEPARATE. *SKD
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WHERE ROAD SALT USE IS HEAVY. A CONDITION WHERE ONE OR BOTH FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS CAN PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE FRONT OF THE CRADLE WOULD NO LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT AND REAR FRAME/CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
INCORRECT CLEAR FRONT SIDE MARKER BULBS WERE INSTALLED RATHER THAN AMBER BULBS. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: DURING ILLUMINATION, THE BULBS WILL SHOW CLEAR RATHER THAN AMBER AND COULD MOMENTARILY CONFUSE OTHER DRIVERS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLEAR BULBS WITH THE CORRECT AMBER BULBS.
FRONT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT WEBBING MAY SEPARATE AT FRONT BELT UPPER GUIDE LOOPS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WEBBING SEPARATION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANDINCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY TO BELTED FRONT OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A HIGH ENERGYCRASH.
Remedy: INSTALL A CONTROLLED ROTATION BRACKET ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT GUIDE LOOPS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
10
RP01001 · Structure
Opened Nov 28, 2001 · Closed Jun 13, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
EA00011 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Apr 10, 2000 · Closed Jan 12, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
RQ99002 · Engine Cradle Separation
Opened Mar 4, 1999 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
ON APRIL 1, 1997, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, REGISTERED IN 14 HIGH CORROSION STATES, TO REPLACE THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WOULD EITHER FRACTURER OR PULL THROUGH THE RETIANERS DUE TO CORROSION.AS OF SEPTEMBER 1998, THE SIXTH QUARTER, 59.3% OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAD BEEN REPAIRED.IN ADDITION TO THE COMPLAINTS OF FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES IN THE ABOVE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY, ODI HAS RECEIVED SIX REPORTS OF POSSIBLE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLT FAILURES, INCLUDING TWO CRASHES.AN RQ IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF FAILURES OF THE FRONT ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.
RQ97017 · Cradle Bolt Failures
Opened Oct 2, 1997 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE94063 · Corroded Rear Disk Brakes
Opened Aug 12, 1994 · Closed Dec 21, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
There is no summary currently available
PE94048 · SUB-FRAME Absorber Failure
Opened Jun 21, 1994 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
PE93039 · Fuel Line Separation
Opened Apr 27, 1993 · Closed Sep 14, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92024 · Sticking Throttle
Opened Jun 26, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA91049 · Jack Failure
Opened Nov 26, 1991 · Closed Oct 28, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
===
PE91072 · Steering Wheel Separation
Opened May 1, 1991 · Closed Jul 8, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
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