NHTSA Complaint #567070 — 1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE

WHILE IN MOTION, CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE STEERING LOCKED. CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY CONSIDERABLE FORCE TO OVERCOME THE RESISTANCE. DRIVING ABOUT 100 FEET AND TURNING LEFT THE STEERING LOCKED AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT A SEAL IN THE RACK AND PINION HAD FAILED AND THE ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER DISASSEMBLED THE PINION GEAR AND THE SEALS WERE IN TACT. THE SEALS DIDN'T FAIL. FURTHER INSPECTION AND CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER PINION BEARING WAS DAMAGED AND ALL OF THE BALL BEARINGS WERE GONE. CONSUMER BELIEVES THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY THAT POSES A RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPENSATED FOR MONIES PAID TO REPLACE THE ASSEMBLY. *JG