NHTSA Complaint #10199638 — 1998 BUICK REGAL

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO ASSIST WHEN TURNING RIGHT, TURNING LEFT WAS O K. I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR HOME, IT WAS A SHORT DISTANCE. THIS OCCURRED ON OR ABOUT 8/2/07. ON 8/13/07 I LOOKED UNDER THE CAR WITH A MIRROR AND WAS ABLE TO FIND A OPEN CAVITY ON THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING UNIT. THERE WAS A SHAFT AND NUT IN THE CAVITY BUT COULD NOT DISCERN A BEARING. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR RELEVANT INFORMATION AND FOUND THAT A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE DEALER HAD ACCOMPLISHED THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I CAME HOME AND FOUND THE INVOICE FOR THE RECALL, IT INDICATES A DATE OF JULY 27, 2004, A MILEAGE OF 58,373 AND THAT THE POWER STEERING GEAR LOWER BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE CAR NOW HAS 96,644 MILES ON IT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER ON 8/17/07 TO ASCERTAIN WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. JUST THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO KNOW. *JB