I OWN TWO VERY SIMILAR GM MADE VANS, A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, AND A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. BOTH HAD SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURSTING, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE! BOTH HAD CURRENT INSPECTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES ON BOTH VANS. THE FACT THAT THEY FA…
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I OWN TWO VERY SIMILAR GM MADE VANS, A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, AND A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. BOTH HAD SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURSTING, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE! BOTH HAD CURRENT INSPECTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES ON BOTH VANS. THE FACT THAT THEY FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME POINT IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE MAKES ME THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE LINE FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, I ALSO REPLACED THE SAME LINE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND FOUND IT WEAK AND READY TO BURST. I STILL SEE MANY OF THESE GM VANS ON THE ROAD AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TWICE, ONE FOR EACH CAR. *TR
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 & 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 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.
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
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1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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