The defect
IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING LOCK BOLTS COULD BREAK IF DRIVER APPLIES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO A LOCKED STEERING WHEEL IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE STEERING LOCK.
The risk
BOLT BREAKAGE WOULD CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO REMAIN LOCKED EVEN AFTER THE DRIVER TURNS THE IGNITION KEY AND ATTEMPTS TO MOVE THE CAR; THIS TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
REPLACE COMPLETE STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING A MODIFIED LOCK BOLT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Audi 80 | 1990 |
| Audi 90 | 1990 |
| Audi Quattro | 1990 |
Components: STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audi 80 | 1990 | 9 | 3 |
| Audi 90 | 1990 | 3 | 3 |
| Audi Quattro | 1990 | 5 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 1990
20 of the 208 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1990 concerned the steering; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC filed 204 campaigns in all.
| 90V201000 6 Dec 1990 | PACCAR, INCORPORATED |
| 90V150000 20 Aug 1990 | FLXIBLE CORPORATION |
| 90V136000 6 Aug 1990 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 90V140000 1 Aug 1990 | RVI INC. |
| 90V139000 1 Aug 1990 | RVI INC. |
| 90V120000 15 Jun 1990 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 90V103000 1 Jun 1990 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 90V099000 22 May 1990 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1990