Autotech Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar

Autotech is recalling about 11,687 vehicles over a problem with the steering. The press-fit between the steering column u-joint and theupper steering shaft may not be sufficient to retain the shaft in the u-joint.the u-joint and shaft may become disengaged, causing complete loss of steeringwhich could result in an accident.

Campaign
93E037000
Manufacturer
DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORP.
Reported
17 November 1993
Vehicles
11,687
Built between
Not published
Models
1
Recall type
Equipment
Initiated by
Manufacturer
Owners notified
11 January 1994
Repaired
Not reported
Unrepaired
Not reported

Does this affect my vehicle?

The manufacturer did not publish a build-date range for this recall, so the model and year list below is the only way to tell whether your vehicle is covered.

  • Autotech Model 919

What the defect is

The u-joint in the steering column is coupled to the upper steering shaft with a press-fit between the u-joint and the upper steering shaft. A cross hole is then drilled through both components and a roll pin is driven through the hole to provide a backup retention mechanism. This roll pin was not installed on the assemblies.

What could happen

The press-fit between the steering column u-joint and theupper steering shaft may not be sufficient to retain the shaft in the u-joint.the u-joint and shaft may become disengaged, causing complete loss of steeringwhich could result in an accident.

What gets fixed

A VISUAL INSPECTION WILL BE MADE TO SEE IF THE ROLL PIN IS MISSING. IF THE PIN IS MISSING, THE ENTIRE COLUMN WILL BE REMOVED AND A NEW PRODUCTION COLUMN WILL BE INSTALLED.

Timeline

  1. Recall reported to NHTSA17 November 1993
  2. Owners notified11 January 1994

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 17 November 1993.

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
DOUGLAS AUTOTECH CORP.
Recall initiated by
MFR

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; column.equipment description: tilting and telescoping steering column designed for usein heavy duty trucks and school buses.note: if your vehicle is presented to an authorized dealer on an agreed uponservice date and the remedy is not provided within a reasonable time or theremedy does not correct the defect or noncompliance, please contact autotecservice at 1-517-369-2315. Also, contact the national highway traffic safetyadministration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

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.

Same component

Same brand