IllustrationVEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-30 MPH. AS A RESULT, STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED RACK AND PINION. *AK *MR
1998 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cutlass years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
1325–50K
950–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
41 reports with mileage · 114 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Steering complaints
21 reportsSTEERING MAKING NOISE AFTER BOTH POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP (4 TIMES) AND POWER STEERING RACK (4 TIMES), BUT GRINDING NOISE PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING AND HAS ASSIGNED THREE DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLE…
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STEERING MAKING NOISE AFTER BOTH POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING RACK BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP (4 TIMES) AND POWER STEERING RACK (4 TIMES), BUT GRINDING NOISE PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN VERY ACCOMMODATING AND HAS ASSIGNED THREE DIFFERENT TECHNICIANS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. I AM NOW CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I AM ALSO CONCERNED IF THE PROBLEM CAN EVER BE FIXED. *LA
STEERING FEELS STRANGE WHEEL HAS A TUG TO IT WHEN MAKING TURNS.. LEFT TURNS REQUIRE MORE STEERING EFFORT THAN RIGHT TURNS ALSO STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. CAR HAS JUST 25,000 MILES ON IT, AFRAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RA…
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STEERING FEELS STRANGE WHEEL HAS A TUG TO IT WHEN MAKING TURNS.. LEFT TURNS REQUIRE MORE STEERING EFFORT THAN RIGHT TURNS ALSO STEERING WHEEL SQUEAKS WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.. CAR HAS JUST 25,000 MILES ON IT, AFRAID THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE RACK AND PINION. *JB
A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER 2002 THERE WAS NOISE FROM FRONT LEFT END OF VEHICLE....THERE IS ANOTHER NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR.....I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING...ALSO I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT THE SAME DAY FOR THE…
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A WEEK AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN OCTOBER 2002 THERE WAS NOISE FROM FRONT LEFT END OF VEHICLE....THERE IS ANOTHER NOISE THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING WHEN TURNING THE WHEELS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR.....I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DON'T HEAR ANYTHING...ALSO I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT THE SAME DAY FOR THE BRAKES...THERE WAS A SQUEALING NOISE ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T BRAKE PROPERLY...THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT BRAKE PAD..I HAVEN'T HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKES SINCE...THREE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE STEERING NOISES AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE COSTLY FOR THE LABOR TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT MAY NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY...THEY SAID SINCE IT'S ONLY MINOR AND IS NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE BETTER TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL SOMETHING WENT WRONG TO WHERE THEY WOULD KNOW WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS COMING FROM....A COUPLE MONTHS LATER..IN MARCH 2003, THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY AND THE CAR WAS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT....AFTER CHECKING THE CAR OUT, I HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED....IT HAS BEEN A WEEK NOW SINCE I'VE HAD THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AND THE ENGINE COOLANT LIGHT HASN'T CAME BACK ON AND THE ENGINE COOLANT HASN'T LEAKED OUT YET..BUT NOW, WHEN I TURN THE AIR CONDITIONER ON IT, IT GOES OUT BY ITSELF AND COMES BACK ON A COUPLE MINUTES LATER...I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT FOR THAT YET BUT THIS CAR IS ADDING UP TO A HEADACHE AND I HAVEN'T HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS YET..RIGHT NOW IT'S ONLY AT AN ESTIMATED OF 42,500 MILES DRIVEN ON IT..... *NLM
ENGINE(IGNITION) QUITS WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. ALL POWER SYSTEMS ARE LOST, MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. ENGINE RESTARTS WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RESET WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. COULD BE A VERY DANG…
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ENGINE(IGNITION) QUITS WHILE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. ALL POWER SYSTEMS ARE LOST, MAKING STEERING AND BRAKING DIFFICULT. ENGINE RESTARTS WHEN KEY IS TURNED OFF AND THEN TURNED ON TO RESTART. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO BE RESET WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN. COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
STEERING PULSATES WHEN BRAKE ARE APPLIED. ROTORS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED TWICE, AND REPLACED ONCE. DEALER CANNOT FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
WHEN CAR WAS PARKED, AND THEN WHENATTEMPTING TO BE DRIVEN, IT HAD NO POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY 15,000 MILES. *AK
WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS A LOUD POP WHEN TURNING AND STRIKING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY FINALLY EXAMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND FOUND A BROKEN WELD ON THE RACK ASSEMBLY. THERE IS STILL SOME UNUSUAL NOISES IN THE FRONT END BUT THE DEALOR TELLS US EVERYTHING…
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WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS A LOUD POP WHEN TURNING AND STRIKING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. AFTER THREE TRIPS TO THE DEALER AND BEING TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, THEY FINALLY EXAMINED THE RACK AND PINION AND FOUND A BROKEN WELD ON THE RACK ASSEMBLY. THERE IS STILL SOME UNUSUAL NOISES IN THE FRONT END BUT THE DEALOR TELLS US EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. AT 8,000 MILES THE LEFT FRONT ROTOR WAS EXAMINED, AND FOUND TO HAVE DEEP SCORES IN IT WHILE THE RIGHT ONE WAS SMOOTH. AFTER THREE DAYS IN THE SHOP, AND THERE TELLING ME THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR THEY FINALLY TURNED THE ROTORS (NOT REPLACING THEM) THIS ELEMINATED SOME NOISE AND SURGING WHEN STOPPING, BUT SOMETHING IS STILL NOT RIGHT. THERE IS A TICKING NOISE LIKE WHEN THERE IS A ROCK IN ONE OF YOUR TIRES, AS WELL AS UNEXPLAINED POPING WHEN CROSSING RR TRACKS ETC. *AK
SUSPENSION MAKING A SQUEAKING LOUD SUEAKING NOISE FROM LEFT FRON END. (LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. ** VEHICLE FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS). STEERING PROBLEM GENERATED NOISES FROM LEFT FRONT END WHICH I MISTOOK FOR SUSPENSION FAILURE. (TAPE KIT ADDED TO FRONT STABILIZER BAR). BRAKES NOISES DURING THE ACT OF …
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SUSPENSION MAKING A SQUEAKING LOUD SUEAKING NOISE FROM LEFT FRON END. (LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. ** VEHICLE FRONT END SUSPENSION CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS). STEERING PROBLEM GENERATED NOISES FROM LEFT FRONT END WHICH I MISTOOK FOR SUSPENSION FAILURE. (TAPE KIT ADDED TO FRONT STABILIZER BAR). BRAKES NOISES DURING THE ACT OF BRAKING. (CALIBERS GRABBING PAD MAKING A CLACKING SOUND-STOP SQUEAL ADDED TO BACK OF PADS ** BRAKES CONTINUE TO MAKE NOISES). LEFT AND RIGHT HUB CAP ASSEMPLY BOTH FAILED-CURRENTLY PART ON ORDER FOR RIGH HUB CAP ASSEMBLY). ** VEHICLE FRONT SUSPENSION ROUGH AND UNREALIABLE CAUSING CONTINUES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.
HIGH PRESSURE HOSE BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING.
Official recalls
203V527000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Dec 11, 2003
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.
Consequence & remedy
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 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.
01V068000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
Mar 8, 2001
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. IF A BUILDUP OF SNOW OR ICE RESTRICTS THE MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM, THE PIVOT HOUSING CAN CRACK AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: REDUCED VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 14, 2001. 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 OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6RQ04006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened Jul 7, 2004 · Closed Jan 13, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer; Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN OPERATED UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.GM CONDUCTED THE RECALL IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (RECALL STATES) THAT RECEIVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.THE RECALL COVERED THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH JANUARY 1998.ODI OPENED THIS RQ IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT EXPERIENCED WIPER FAILURE AND WERE DENIED THE RECALL REMEDY.GM IS SENDING LETTERS TO OWNERS NOT LOCATED IN THE RECALL STATES GIVING THEM A FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST IF THEY ANTICIPATE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT MAY HAVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.IN ADDITION, GM IS NOTIFYING ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR RESIDENCE FROM A NON-RECALL STATE TO A RECALL STATE SINCE THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER (MARCH 2001).THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN OPERATED UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.GM CONDUCTED THE RECALL IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (RECALL STATES) THAT RECEIVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.THE RECALL COVERED THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH JANUARY 1998.ODI OPENED THIS RQ IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT EXPERIENCED WIPER FAILURE AND WERE DENIED THE RECALL REMEDY.GM IS SENDING LETTERS TO OWNERS NOT LOCATED IN THE RECALL STATES GIVING THEM A FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST IF THEY ANTICIPATE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT MAY HAVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.IN ADDITION, GM IS NOTIFYING ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR RESIDENCE FROM A NON-RECALL STATE TO A RECALL STATE SINCE THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER (MARCH 2001).THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:linkages
IN MARCH 2001, GM NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA NUMBER 01V068) ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997-1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSINGS.GM REPORTED THE WIPER FAILURE WAS TRIGGERED BY LOADS PLACED ON THE WIPERS WHEN OPERATED UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.GM CONDUCTED THE RECALL IN 28 STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (RECALL STATES) THAT RECEIVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.THE RECALL COVERED THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH JANUARY 1998.ODI OPENED THIS RQ IN RESPONSE TO COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS THAT EXPERIENCED WIPER FAILURE AND WERE DENIED THE RECALL REMEDY.GM IS SENDING LETTERS TO OWNERS NOT LOCATED IN THE RECALL STATES GIVING THEM A FREE REMEDY UPON REQUEST IF THEY ANTICIPATE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN AREAS THAT MAY HAVE MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL.IN ADDITION, GM IS NOTIFYING ALL OWNERS WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR RESIDENCE FROM A NON-RECALL STATE TO A RECALL STATE SINCE THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER (MARCH 2001).THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER ARE SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.
RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA00019 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Jul 12, 2000 · Closed Mar 6, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
ON FEBRUARY 22, 2000, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) INITIATED PE00-009 BASED ON SEVEN REPORTS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1997 & 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU & OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS VEHICLES.THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO EA00-019 ON JULY 12, 2000.DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FAILURES WERE THE RESULT OF FRACTURE OF THE PASSENGER-SIDE WINDSHIELD WIPER PIVOT HOUSING (SUBJECT COMPONENT).SUCH A FRACTURE LED TO AN IMMEDIATE AND IRRECOVERABLE LOSS OF WINDSHIELD WIPER FUNCTION.GMREPORTED THAT THE MATERIAL COMPOSITION (50% GLASS-REINFORCED ACETAL) OF THE SUBJECT COMPONENT WAS INSUFFICIENT TO WITHSTAND STRESSES IMPOSED BY CERTAIN FROZEN PRECIPITIATION ACCUMULATIONS.THE SUBJECT COMPONENT MATERIAL WAS CHANGED TO THE STRONGER 50% GLASS-REINFORCEDNYLON-6, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 98.OBSOLETE SERVICE PART WERE DISCARDED.GM WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT COMPONENTS IN 129,427 SUBJECT VEHICLES FOUND IN 28 STATES (AK, CO, CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, IA ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, PA, RI, SD, UT, VT, WV, WI, WY), THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND ALL CANADIAN PROVINCES.THESE STATES ACCOUNTED FOR 91% OF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS IDENTIFIED ABOVE.ODI WILL MONITOR THIS COMPAIGN FOR ADEQUATE EFFCTIVENESS AND, IF NECESSARY, TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE.FURTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS MATTER IS UNJUSTIFIED AT THIS TIME.THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE00009 · Windshield Wiper
Opened Feb 22, 2000 · Closed Jul 12, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility
There is no summary currently available
EA99030 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened Oct 29, 1999 · Closed Mar 25, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available
PE99037 · Inadvertent Air Bag Deployments
Opened May 19, 1999 · Closed Oct 29, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
There is no summary currently available