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Pontiac Grand Prix Steering Rack And Pinion Rack Safety Report | July 26, 2003
Reported on July 26, 2003
| STEERING: RACK AND PINION, CURRENTLY OWN A 1999 GRAND PRIX, AND HAD TO HAVE THE STEERING RACK ASSEMBLY REPLACED, THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURED IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED IN THE 1997, AND 1998 MODEL GRAND PRIXS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000.*AK SUMMARY: 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. 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. | |
| Make: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Grand Prix |
| Manufactured by: | General Motors LLC |
| Year: | 1999 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | HARRISON TOWNSHIP MI |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1G2WP52K6XF |
| Mileage: | 50155 miles. |
| Speed: | |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | FWD |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS Fuel injection. |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | JIM CAUSLEY PONTIAC-GMC TRUCKS CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 48036 |
| Previous Report:Steering Rack And Pinion Rack | Next Report:Engine And Engine Cooling Engine |