1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER Steeringrack And Pinion Problems

1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER WITH A STEERING COLUMN RECALL. CONSUMER STATES THAT THEY NEVER RECEIVED THE FIRST RECALL AND BY THE TIME THEY RECEIVED THE SECOND ONE THEIR DAUGHTER HAD DIED IN THAT VEHICLE DUE TO AN ACCIDENT. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE POWER STEERING WORKS WHEN DRIVING FORWARD AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, BUT FAILS ONLY WHEN TURNING LEFT. GMC STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V286000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT A CHEVROLET DEALER AWAITING REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000. * UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY MAKING THE VEHICLE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE CONCERNING, THE STEERING:RACK AND PINION HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR UNDER THE RECALL.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE POWER STEERING FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 02V286000, REGARDING THE RACK AND PINION; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. CAR FAILS TO STEER LEFT AND ALMOST CAUSES A CRASH DUE TO LACK OF BEING ABLE TO STEER. ABILITY TO STEER TO THE RIGHT IS FINE. MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS NOW WORRIES ME WHEN DRIVING. DURING MY COMMUTE I AM CONSTANTLY WORRIED WHETHER OR NOT I CAN MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED THREE ACCIDENTS. WHY WASN'T THIS RECALLED CONSIDERING ALL THE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS LISTED WITH THE NHTSA? PLENTY OF GM MODELS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. WHY SHOULD CONSUMERS TAKE THE FALL WHEN IT STEMS BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER?

TAKING A LEFT TURN IN A 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING THE CAR TO VEER LEFT WITHOUT ABILITY TO CORRECT UNTIL EXPLICIT FORCE WAS APPLIED. THE INCIDENTS LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH SLUGGISH CONTROL AND THEREFORE UNSAFE FOR DRIVING. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH ASKED FOR 800$ FOR THE REPAIR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DEFECT IN GM CARS HAS BEEN SEEN THROUGHOUT THE INTERNET, AND A COMPLAINT IS MORE THAN NECESSARY.

CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V286000 CONCERNING RACK AND PINION STEERING. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, AFTER REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT, HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. POWER STEERING FAILED WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A STEEL POLE. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER WAS INJURED AND WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE NEXT DAY. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE RACK PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 02V186000; STEERING ASSEMBLY; THE OWNER TOOK HER VEHICLE IN FOR THE RECALL BUT WAS INFORMED THAT OTHER ITEMS WERE WRONG. THOSE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE. IT APPEARS THAT THEIR INTEREST WAS NOT ABOUT THE STEERING, IN WHICH THEY ONLY REPLACED THE LOWER PINION. THE CONSUMER QUESTIONED THE REPAIRS MADE TO HER VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILING ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER. THEY ARE NOT CLAIMING ANY FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB TIRE WAS HIT WITH A NAIL CREATING AN UNBALANCED TIRE. *TC

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND WHEN TURNING INTO THE DRIVEWAY RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILED. CONSUMER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THE WHEELS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, AND INJURING THE DRIVER. *AK

NAR 3-11-03 THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM CHEVROLET ABOUT THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY. UPON ARRIVAL THE CONSUMER FOUND REPAIRS MADE ON THE VEHICLE THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND IS NOW ASKING TO BE REIMBURSED BY CHEVROLET. *CB *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED A POPPING NOISE WHILE TRAVELING 5-10 MPH, VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL DID A 360* TURN WHILE STILL TRAVELING , AND VEHICLE LOST ALL STEERING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED PROBLEM WAS DUE TO STEERING RACK IN PINION FAILURE. *AK

WHEN MY CAR FIRST STARTED ACTING UP, THE STEERING WOULD KIND OF HANG WHEN TURING TO THE LEFT. I AM NOT A MECHANIC SO I THOUGHT IT WAS THE POWER STEERING GOING OUT. I CHANGED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH HELPED IT SOME. ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER MY FRIEND AND I WERE GOING TO SCHOOL, WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE TO THE LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL HUNG AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WOULD STRAIGHTEN BACK OUT BUT I WAS WRONG. THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT SENDING US OFF THE ROAD RIGHT INTO A TREE AT ABOUT 30 M\P\H. MY FRIEND SUFFERED AN INJURY TO HIS HIP AND HAD TO HAVE SURGERY. MY CAR WAS TOTALED BECAUSE OF SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I NEVER GOT THE RECALL STATEMENT AND HAVE YET TO. GM HAS NOW SAID THEY WILL NOT COMPINSATE ME OR MY FRIEND FOR DAMAGES...

RACK AND PINION FAILURE. WHILE TURNING ONTO THE INTERSTATE MY 17 YEAR OLDS 1997 CHEVY CAVALIER STEERING LOCKED, MAKIING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT. FORTUNATELY SHE ONLY GRAZED THE GAURD RAIL BUT THIS COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN A FATAL FAILURE. *AK

THE CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER SEEKED REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL#02V286000. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH WAS INTERMITTENT, AND PLACED AN AXLE ON THE VEHICLE, BUT FOUND THE PROBLEM WAS THE RACK AND PINION. MR SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR TO THE STEERING LOWER RACK AND PINION ON 3/20/03. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REPAIRED PART FAILED AGAIN. *NLM

NHTSA 02-V-286-000. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THE RECALL WAS NOT AVAILABLE.*JB

THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TWO WEEKS LATER CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE WHICH DESCRIBED THE SAME INCIDENT WHICH HAD OCCURRED.*JB PH

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER CAUSING INJURIES AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE.

DEFECT RECALL CAMPAIGN # 02V286000 STEERING: GEAR: RACK AND PINION. NOISE AND LOOSENESS IN STEERING. HAVE NOT RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM MANUFACTURER. TS

I HAVE 1997 CHEVROLET, CAVALIER WHICH I TOOK DELIVERY ON JULY 28, 1997. THE CAR IS NOW UNDRIVEABLE. I WENT ON LINE TO THE GENERAL MOTORS RECALL LIST AND LOCATED A RECALL FOR CARS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, AND OCTOBER 31, 1997. THE RECALL INVOLVES THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE POWER STEERING GEAR MAY SEPARATE, PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF THE PINION SHAFT. REPORT INDICATE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THERE HAVE BEEN 15 REPORT OF CRASHES AND THREE INJURIES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE CONDITION, BUT NO FATAL INJURIES. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS, DESCRIBED TO THEM THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, WHICH I HAD TO HAVE TOWED TO MY HOUSE. I GAVE THEM MY VIN # AND THE REPLY I GOT WAS THAT I AM NOT INVOLVED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE RECALLS FOR MINOR REPAIRS BUT I AM NOT ON THIS RECALL LIST. I AM A BIT DISTURBED WITH...

WHEN TURN STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT THERE IS A CRANCKING NOISE. PERSONAL AUTO MACHANIC HAS SAID PROBLEM IS IN POWER RACK AND PINION BEARINGS. DT

SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE FURTHER I DROVE THE CAR THE WORSE IT GOT, AFFECTING THE RIGHT SIDE AS WELL AND MAKING A HORRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE RACK HAD GONE OUT.*AK

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TRYING TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OF THE CAR. THIS CONTINUED AS I MADE 3 MORE TURNS. IT FINALLY WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER DRIVING 5 MILES. THE NEXT DAY IT RESUMED BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED BY MY PERSONAL MECHANIC OF 30 YEARS THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 24,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT AND ALSO QUITE EXPENSIVE. ALMOST $900.00.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT I TURNED THE WHEEL TO GO LEFT AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BEGAN PULLING RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. HAD I BEEN GOING ANY FASTER I WOULD HAVE CRASHED AND DIED. ON THE WAY HOME THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AGAIN TURNING LEFT ONTO OUR ROAD AND I ALMOST DROVE OFF THE ROAD. I'VE PARKED THE CAR AND HAVEN'T DRIVEN IT SINCE WITH CONCERN THAT THIS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MANY OTHER GM VEHICLES HAVE REPORTS OF THIS STEERING PROBLEM WITH 97 VEHICLES WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN A REPORT BY GUY CRAMER AT HTTP://WWW.YFILES.COM/GM-STEERING-PROBLEM.HTM. *AK

ON 12/2/98 AT 26,332 MILES I REPORTED A GRINDING AND THUD NOISE WHEN TURNING. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD GO OUT AT ANY TIME. I WAS GIVEN A LOANER CAR AND THE RACK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON 6/29/99 AT 34, 556 MILES, I AGAIN REPORTED THE SAME GRINDING AND THUD NOISE UPON TURNING. AGAIN I WAS TOLD THE CAR WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND GIVEN A LOANER CAR. AGAIN THE RACK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRENTY. ON 11/15/00, AT 60,152 MILES I AGAIN REPORTED THE EXACT SAME GRINDING AND THUD NOISE UPON TURNING. THIS TIME HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON 2/15/01 AT 64,434 MILES I AGAIN REPORTED THE GRINDING AND THUD UPON TURNING AND ASKED THAT THE CAR BE CHECKED. NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE GRINDING AND...

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE WILL PULL STRONGLY TO RIGHT, ALSO HARD TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC, THAT RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK *SLC

MID-WAY THROUGH A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP SIGN, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND BEGAN PULLING TO THE RIGHT. INITIALLY THE CAR STEERED FREELY TO THE RIGHT AND ONLY LOCKED LEFT; THEN BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT LOCKED UP. MECHANIC SAYS THE STEERING GEAR ON THE POWER ASSIST RACK & PINION FAILED CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

WAS INFORMED BY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT SEAL AROUND CROSSMEMBER WAS MISSING DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT/NEGLECT. THIS CAUSED THE RACK AND PINION TO FAIL. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

WHEN I TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME.I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP AS TO HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THE GUY TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 30MPH THE STERRING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND THE WHOLE CAR SKIDDED FORWARD.I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND COMPARE IT WITH OTHER CARS.I HOPE NHTSA MAKES DEALERSHIPS REPORT TO NHTSA WHEN A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE HAPENS. *AK

WHEN I TURN LEFT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME.I QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP AS TO HOW MANY TIMES THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THE GUY TOLD ME THEY'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE.WHEN I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT 30MPH THE STERRING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN AND THE WHOLE CAR SKIDDED FORWARD.I HOPE YOU WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND COMPARE IT WITH OTHER CARS.I HOPE NHTSA MAKES DEALERSHIPS REPORT TO NHTSA WHEN A LIFE THREATING PROBLEM LIKE THIS ONE HAPENS. *AK

DEFECT 1: ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. ABS WOULD NO LONGER ACTIVATE WHILE LIGHT WAS ON. DEFECT 2: ALTERNATOR--WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IN CITY TRAFFIC, RUSH HOUR. HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED DEALER TO CHECK, BUT THEY CLAIMED IT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DEFECT 3: RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY--WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER ALTERNATOR, WHILE DRIVING IN THE DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT. DEFECT 4: TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER--TECHNICIAN SAID THIS CAUSED MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE--GEARS, HEAD, ETC. DEFECT 5: HORN--HAS WORKED SPORADICALLY, AT BEST, FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF. SEEMED LIKE A SHORT.

ERRATIC POPPING NOISE AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK RACK AND PINION HOUSING WAS POPPING AND FREEZING UP, DEALER IS GOING TO REPLACE IT. *YH

RACK AND PINION AND STEERING WENT MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

POWER STEERING SEIZED DUE TO FAILURE OF THE RACK AND PINION, DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND STOPPED JUST SHORT OF HITTING A TREE. *SLC

TEETH INSIDE THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ARE STRIPPED OUT . WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED, THE STEERING WHEEL POPS, AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT MOVE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK