AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. CAR CONTINUED, RAN OVER A MAIL BOX AND CAME TO REST IN A FLOWER BED. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND PICKED CAR UP, TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT ENGINE CRADLE HAD FALLEN DOWN AND DISABLED THE STEERING. MECHANIC AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER LATER AGREED THAT T…
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AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN. CAR CONTINUED, RAN OVER A MAIL BOX AND CAME TO REST IN A FLOWER BED. WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND PICKED CAR UP, TOW TRUCK DRIVER NOTICED THAT ENGINE CRADLE HAD FALLEN DOWN AND DISABLED THE STEERING. MECHANIC AND INSURANCE ADJUSTER LATER AGREED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS HAD SHEARED OFF. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10608725
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Power Train
LOSS OF POWER AT 60 MPH. AFTER STOPPING VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF OVERDRIVE. GRINDING. AFTER EVALUATION BY MECHANIC, METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. COST OF REPAIRS WILL EXCEED $1,500.
WAS GOING 30MPH & HAD APPLIED BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HIT ONE CURB & THEN ANOTHER CURB BEFORE COMING TO STOP ON RAMP. SECOND TIME AT 20MPH OFF RAMP. HIT BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. HEARD A SNAP & ROTOR BROKE; WHEEL & VEHICLE WENT INTO SP…
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WAS GOING 30MPH & HAD APPLIED BRAKES. VEHICLE KEPT GOING. LOW TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE HIT ONE CURB & THEN ANOTHER CURB BEFORE COMING TO STOP ON RAMP. SECOND TIME AT 20MPH OFF RAMP. HIT BRAKES, VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. PRESSED HARDER. ABS LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED. HEARD A SNAP & ROTOR BROKE; WHEEL & VEHICLE WENT INTO SPIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #847497
Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 1997
Power Train
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH CAR KICKED INTO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WAS REVVING. THE TACHOMETER MAXED OUT AND CAR STOPPED. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION. *AK
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 & 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 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.
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
3
PE02050 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jun 13, 2002 · Closed Oct 22, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
EA99026 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment
Opened Aug 31, 1999 · Closed Dec 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
EA96023 · Inappropriate Air Bag Deployment
Opened Sep 27, 1996 · Closed Feb 13, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
THE FAILURE RATE (1.25/100K) ON THIS ISSUE IS LOW.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF THE AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITURE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THIS ISSUE.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.
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