- Vehicles
- 3,707,064
- Built between
- Aug 1970 – Jul 1972
- Models
- 18
- Recall type
- Vehicle
- Initiated by
- NHTSA investigation
- Owners notified
- 6 February 1973
- Repaired
- Not reported
- Unrepaired
- Not reported
Does this affect my vehicle?
This recall covers vehicles built between August 1970 and July 1972. If yours was built outside that window, it is not part of this recall.
- 1971-1972 Buick CenturionBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Buick ElectraBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Buick Estate WagonBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Buick LesabreBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Buick RivieraBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet BelairBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet BiscayneBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet BrookwoodBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet CapriceBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet ImpalaBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet KingswoodBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet Kingswood EstateBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Chevrolet TownsmanBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Oldsmobile 88Built August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Oldsmobile 98Built August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Pontiac BonnevilleBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Pontiac CatalinaBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
- 1971-1972 Pontiac Grand VilleBuilt August 1970 to July 1972
What the defect is
The possibility exists that driving on unpaved road surfaces, particularly roads which are heavily graveled and which are extremely wavy or filled with chuckholes, at speeds which cause the car to pitch excessively, the front crossmember may scoop up loose stones or gravel and could be thrown into the engine compartment. It is possible for one of these stones to lodge between the steering coupling and the frame and cause increased steering effort or interference with steering control of the car when steering wheel is turned to the left.
What could happen
Increased steering effort or interference with steeringcontrol may lead to loss of vehicle control and an accident.
What gets fixed
INSPECT AND INSTALL SHIELD ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.
Timeline
- Vehicles builtAugust 1970 to July 1972
- Recall reported to NHTSA24 January 1973
- Owners notified6 February 1973
Your rights
A safety recall repair is free. Under US federal law the manufacturer must fix a safety defect at no cost to you — no charge for parts, labor or diagnosis — whether or not you are the original owner. A dealer cannot charge you for recall work, and cannot require you to have bought the vehicle from them.
That entitlement is not unlimited. It applies where the vehicle was first sold less than 15 years before the recall was announced — 5 years for tires. Past that a manufacturer may still do the repair free of charge, and many do, but they are no longer obliged to. This recall was reported on 24 January 1973.
To arrange the repair, contact any franchised dealer for the brand. If a dealer refuses the work or tries to charge for it, you can report that to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls or on 1-888-327-4236.
Official source
- Recalling manufacturer
- GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Recall initiated by
- ODI
Everything on this page — the models listed, the build dates and the repair figures — comes from the manufacturer's filing to NHTSA and describes the vehicle line as a whole, not any individual car. Only the manufacturer can confirm whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its recall work has already been carried out. Check yours by VIN and read the official notice at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Additional notes
System: steering.vehicle description: passenger cars.
Check your own vehicle
This page describes the recall, not any one car. To see which recalls cover a specific vehicle, search by make, model and year.
A VIN lookup here identifies your vehicle and shows recalls issued for that make, model and year. It cannot tell you what is still open on your individual car - only the manufacturer knows that. Search by VIN instead, or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov for whether a recall is still open on your individual car.