1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System Problems

THE CONSUMER DIDN'T RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR ON THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DEALER NOT HAVING THE TOOL. (RECALL #02V286000/STEERING RACK AND PINION) THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHILE TURNING LEFT. THE CONSUMER HAS DEMANDED REIMBURSEMENT OF THE VEHICLE AT BLUE BOOK VALUE AND THE TOWING FEE. MR SCC

CONSUMER DISSATISFIED WITH RECALL REPAIRS OF POWER STEERING SYSTEM. HAD TO RENT A CAR FOR A WEEK BECAUSE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PART FOR THE RECALL. *SC

POWER STEERING GEAR DEFECT RECALL TO REPLACE THE LOWER PINION BEARING. DEALER NEEDED TO HAVE VEHICLE FOR UP TO 2 WEEKS IN ORDER TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL STATED REPAIRS WOULD TAKE FROM 30 MINUTES TO 2-1/2 HOURS. CONSUMER FOUND DEALER'S REPAIR TIME FRAME UNACCEPTABLE. *TT *NLM

MY POSER STEERING HAS SUDDENLY BECOME DIFFICULT AT SLOW SPEEDS. UNABLE TO TURN LEFT/RIGHT AT CORNERS UNTIL SPEED IS INCREASED. TURNING WHILE SLOWING IS VERY DIFFICULT. BRAKE FLUID CHECKED FINE. MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH PUMP OR RACK/PINION.*AK

POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AT ALL SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO TURN LEFT. TOOK TO REPAIR, WAS TOLD THAT RACK & PINION GEAR WAS COMING APART QUICKLY & NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON DOING MORE RESEARCH, I SEE THAT THIS IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER NHTSA # EA02-003. IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE FIRST PERSON THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. COST TO REPLACE WILL APPROACH $900, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED IN A RECALL BY GMC. *AK

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY PUDDLE MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES DEEP, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND IF LIGHTS ARE ON THEY DIM DOWN ALMOST TO OFF. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE IT RAINS A LOT EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO HIS DEALERSHIP (ATKINS KROLL, GUAM). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY PUDDLE MORE THAN 2-3 INCHES DEEP, POWER STEERING GOES OUT, BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON, AND IF LIGHTS ARE ON THEY DIM DOWN ALMOST TO OFF. I LIVE IN A PLACE WHERE IT RAINS A LOT EVERYDAY AND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER IN MY AREA HAS STATED THAT THERE HAS BEEN AT LEAST 3 OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL TO HIS DEALERSHIP (ATKINS KROLL, GUAM). THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM.

GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF ITS CONSUMERS. WHEN DRIVING MY 1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE THROUGH ANY WATER, EVEN A SMALL 3-5 FOOT WIDE PUDDLE OF ONLY 1-2 INCHES DEEP WATER, THE POWER STEERING BELT BECOMES WET AND STARTS SQUEALING LOUDLY. THE POWER STEERING THEN BECOMES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND VERY UNRESPONSIVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES FOR OVER A YEAR. DON BOHN AUTOPLEX SAYS THEY HAVE CONTACTED PONTIAC AND ALSO A GM MANUFACTURERS REPRESENTATIVE. DON BOHN REPORTS TO ME THAT PONTIAC AND GM DO NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AT THIS TIME AND SAID NOTHING IS TO BE DONE. IT HAS BEEN SAID TO ME BY DON BOHN MANAGEMENT AND ALSO A PONTIAC REPRESENTATIVE ON THEIR 1-800 SERVICE NUMBER THAT THIS CONDITION OF THE POWER STEERING IS A 'CHARACTERISTIC' OF THE 1997 'J' BODY TYPE CARS OF GM AND THERE IS NO PRESENT FIX FOR...