I SMELLED SMOKE IN MY VEHICLE, SO I PULLED OVER. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE VENT. MY FRIEND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTICAL, SO HE STARTED PULLING FUSES TO STOP THE PROBLEM. I DISCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR THAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER ON THE VAN. I TOLD MY FRIEND TO JUST GET OUT AND I CALLED THE …
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I SMELLED SMOKE IN MY VEHICLE, SO I PULLED OVER. IT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE VENT. MY FRIEND THOUGHT IT WAS ELECTICAL, SO HE STARTED PULLING FUSES TO STOP THE PROBLEM. I DISCERNED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE MOTOR THAT OPENED AND CLOSED THE AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER ON THE VAN. I TOLD MY FRIEND TO JUST GET OUT AND I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY, BUT BY THE TIME THEY HAD ARRIVED MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I AM THANKFUL THAT I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN WITH ME AT THE TIME AS I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD HAVE GOTTEN THEM OUT IN TIME. MY THREE YEAR OLD WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE BUILT-IN CAR SEAT WHICH IS NEXT TO THE DOOR. THE FIRE HAPPENED SO FAST. I MIGHT ADD I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR OR AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENER. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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 JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
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
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