Recall 02V286000: 1996–1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette and 6 other models

Report received

Nov 4, 2002

Manufacturer

General motors corp.

Potentially affected

1,159,156vehicles

Model years

1996–1998

Check your own vehicle. A recall applies only to vehicles within the affected build range. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

What NHTSA recorded

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.

Possible consequence

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.

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.

Affected model years

Pages for each model year show complaints, parts, mileage and other recalls.

• 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier503 complaints
• 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier540 complaints
• 1998 Chevrolet Cavalier345 complaints
• 1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV35 complaints
• 1997 Chevrolet Venture432 complaints
• 1998 Chevrolet Venture409 complaints
• 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette20 complaints
• 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette104 complaints
• 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette170 complaints
• 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix810 complaints
• 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix499 complaints
• 1996 Pontiac Sunfire201 complaints
• 1997 Pontiac Sunfire190 complaints
• 1998 Pontiac Sunfire120 complaints
• 1996 Pontiac Trans Sport61 complaints
• 1997 Pontiac Trans Sport236 complaints
• 1998 Pontiac Trans Sport227 complaints