General Motors Corp.: Steering › Rack and Pinion
General Motors Corp. reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 11, 2003 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 750,283. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
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.
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 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.
15 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Buick Regal | 302 | 7 | 41 | 7 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Lumina | 223 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 976 | 5 | 5 | 34 |
| 1998 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 100 | 5 | 8 | 13 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass | 155 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue | 510 | 8 | 39 | 19 |
| 1997 Buick Regal | 136 | 8 | 19 | 3 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Lumina | 347 | 2 | 8 | 34 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Malibu | 443 | 6 | 0 | 22 |
| 1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo | 164 | 3 | 1 | 14 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass | 96 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme | 43 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 1996 Buick Regal | 204 | 4 | 16 | 14 |
| 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme | 47 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 Pontiac Grand Prix | 79 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
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 03V527000.
Full record for the 1998 Buick Regal → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →