General Motors Corp.: Steering › Rack and Pinion
General Motors Corp. reported this defect to federal regulators on Nov 4, 2002 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 1,159,156. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.
17 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier | 345 | 11 | 10 | 36 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Venture | 409 | 10 | 3 | 27 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 170 | 10 | 0 | 6 |
| 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix | 499 | 8 | 60 | 19 |
| 1998 Pontiac Sunfire | 120 | 7 | 1 | 11 |
| 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport | 227 | 6 | 4 | 17 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier | 540 | 13 | 25 | 70 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Venture | 432 | 9 | 10 | 8 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 104 | 9 | 0 | 4 |
| 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix | 810 | 9 | 108 | 34 |
| 1997 Pontiac Sunfire | 190 | 9 | 8 | 29 |
| 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport | 236 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier | 503 | 13 | 10 | 58 |
| 1996 Chevrolet Lumina Apv | 35 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Pontiac Sunfire | 201 | 10 | 11 | 30 |
| 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport | 61 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 02V286000.
Full record for the 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →