NHTSA Complaint #717671 — 1987 BUICK LESABRE

WHEEL COLUMN LOOSE -- EXCESSIVE PLAY AND STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT MADE STEERING DIFFICULT AS WHEEL MOVED UP AND DOWN AND ROCKED AT AN ANGLE TO THE LEFT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED--NEITHER CONSIDERED THIS A SAFETY CONCERN. WHEN I HIT MY BRAKES MY BODY WOULD MOVE FORWARD TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NOT SECURE. I WAS FORCED TO COVER 100% COST OF THE REPAIR. THE DEALER HAD TO DROP THE ENGINE AND PUT A NEW BOLT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUM IN THE ENGINE AREA. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS REPAIRED IN APPROXIMATELY 1996. ABOUT 18 MONTHS LATER, THE STEERING COLUMN STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT TO A LESSER DEGREE. BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK IN TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. THREE YEARS SINCE THE FIRST REPAIR. FORTUNATELY IT IS NOT AS LOOSE AS THE FIRST TIME, BUT IS SLOWLY GETTING SLOPPIER. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS CONDITION CAUSING AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 1987 BUICK. IF THIS WAS TRULY THE CASE, WHY DID I HAVE TO INCUR THE REPAIR COST -- $189.00 TO REPLACE THE BOLT.