The defect
THE STEERING COLUMN UPPER INTERMEDIATE-SHAFT NUT MAY NOT BE TORQUED TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS. THE NUT COULD LOOSEN AND DETACH ALLOWING THE THROUGH-BOLT THAT SECURES THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE-SHAFT TO THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT JOINT TO FALL OUT.
The risk
THIS LOOSE ENGAGEMENT CAN PROVIDE NOTICEABLE NOISE AND ABNORMAL STEERING FEELING TO THE DRIVER AND, IF LEFT UNATTENDED, THE STEERING SHAFTS CAN SEPARATE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL TORQUE THE SUSPECT FASTENERS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet C10 | 1995 |
| Chevrolet C20 | 1995 |
| Chevrolet C30 | 1995 |
| GMC C15 | 1995 |
| GMC C25 | 1995 |
| GMC C35 | 1995 |
Components: STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet C10 | 1995 | 40 | 7 |
| Chevrolet C20 | 1995 | 14 | 6 |
| Chevrolet C30 | 1995 | 9 | 7 |
| GMC C15 | 1995 | 10 | 6 |
| GMC C25 | 1995 | 3 | 6 |
| GMC C35 | 1995 | 0 | 7 |
Other steering recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the steering; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 96V249000 17 Dec 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V229000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V230000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V195000 8 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V187000 26 Sept 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V171000 24 Sept 1996 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
| 96V180000 23 Sept 1996 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 96V167000 19 Sept 1996 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996