The defect
IN SOME OF THESE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DIAMETER OF THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT IS TOO SMALL.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO SPIN INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULTING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE STEERING COLUMN INTERMEDIATE SHAFT. OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY TELEPHONE ON FEBRUARY 7, 2003, WITH A FOLLOW-UP LETTER ON FEBRUARY 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Rendezvous | 2003 |
| Pontiac Aztek | 2003 |
Components: STEERING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Rendezvous | 2003 | 281 | 6 |
| Pontiac Aztek | 2003 | 128 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 2003
30 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the steering; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 03V492000 26 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V522000 11 Dec 2003 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 03V527000 11 Dec 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V513000 10 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 03V517000 10 Dec 2003 | SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. |
| 03V488000 4 Dec 2003 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 03V491000 1 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V453000 14 Nov 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003