This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 1998 Chevrolet Venture. While attempting to make a left turn at 5 mph, the steering wheel would only turn right. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence and has not been inspected by a dealer. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number 02V286000 (rack and pinion). The current and failure mileages were 138,000. Updated 01/02/08. The consumer stated the parts were purchased from autozone. She was not able to use her vehicle for several days, while the vehicle was being fixed. Updated 12/12/07.
: the contact stated after pulling into a parking space and straightening the steering wheel, the steering wheel rack and pinion fractured without warning. Soon after, the airbag light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop who confirmed the steering rack and pinion fracture. The repair shop also determined due to the unique fracture of the rack and pinion and the illumination of the airbag warning light, the airbag should have deployed. The manufacturer was not alerted.
: the contact stated while attempting to make a left turn at 20 mph the steering column locked. The vehicle was then pulled to the side of the highway. The vehicle was towed to a local independent repair shop. The mechanic determined there was failure to the lower bearing plate. There is a NHTSA recall, # 02V286000, regarding the steering rack and pinion. The VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer has been alerted.
I experienced power steering failure making left turns only. Dealer told me that my vehicle is not in the recall scope even thou it has the exact problem as the recall vehicles of 1998 (NHTSA id # 02V28600). They replaced the power steering gear at my cost. They kept the core gear assembly dn/26065144 - rv 26065041-78091. They told me they could not tell what caused the failure because it is a sealed unit.
I have a 1998 Chevy Venture van that is displaying the same defects of the rack and pinion recall for the same listed vehicle and year. Chevy tells me that mine was not included in this. I feel that this is too much coincidence. The vehicle has only 76,000 miles on it.
- Akron, OH, USA
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Manifold intake gasket had to be replaced twice now on my 1998 Chevrolet Venture (2003 and 2005). Also the rack and pinion needs to be replaced for turning left.
Had to replace the rack and pinion on my 1998 Chevrolet Venture, it has 64,000 miles on it. Doing research I see that many vans of this year are recalled for this same problem, but GM insists that mine is not one of them. I think they are just trying to get out of paying for the replacement of this faulty part. Power steering would stop working while making left turns. At times I was unable to turn the wheel at all, causing the vehicle to stop turning in the middle of a turn/intersection.
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, could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape. Consumer noticed this problem. Vehicle VIN does not comply. Dealer has been contacted.
I own a 1998 Chevy Venture van. I recently took it in for a recall for a defect on the steering rack and pinion (NHTSA campaign id number : 02V286000). The dealer would not replace the defective component because the van has a salvage title. I was notified that "the bearing is about to fall out" and the entire rack and pinion was damaged due to the defect and has to be replaced at a cost of $600. I called GM and was informed that it was their policy not to do recalls on vehicles with a salvaged title. This is a defect and a safety issue regardless of the salvaged title and I think GM should be responsible for fixing it. There is also another safety recall on the transmission (NHTSA campaign id number : 98V131000) that is a problem on my particular van. About a year ago, a 5 year old friend of the family was playing in the van (without our knowledge). He was able to move the shift lever enough to disengage the transmission lock even though it was still in park, and the van rolled down the hill in our back yard. It was stopped by a small tree. Nobody was hurt even though there were two other children in the back yard playing and the van suffered only minor damage. I thought perhaps this was because the van had previously been in an accident so I didn't pursue looking into the problem. Then I discovered the recall on it and now I feel that GM should fix this problem. What can I do to get them to fix my van?.
Steering rack and pinion fell off while driving, causing lost of steering control. The component from rack and pinion that fell on the ground was due to a manufacturing defect. The dealer removed and replaced power steering rack, also the brakes failed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Masslion , OH, USA