Steering rack and pinion

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into Oldsmobile vehicles. Closed 4 April 2002.

Investigation
PE01038
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
14 November 2001
Closed
4 April 2002

What NHTSA investigated

Odi has received 200 complaints fromt consumers and 1,238 from GM alleging failure or lockup of the steering rack and pinion unit (r&p).this alleged condition can result in the loss of steering control of the vehicle and a crash can result.gm has reported six crashes in which eight people have sustained injuries ranging from bruises, airbag burn, seat belt abrasion, facial injury, neck and back pain.all crashes were single vehicle crashes.gm states that one possible failure mode is failure of the lower pinion bearing in the r&p.an engineering analysis has been opened to determine if a safety defect trend exists.

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
ChevroletMALIBU1997
ChevroletVENTURE1997
OldsmobileCUTLASS1997
OldsmobileINTRIGUE1998
OldsmobileSILHOUETTE1997
PontiacGRAND PRIX1997
PontiacTRANS SPORT1997

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.