The defect
THE FRAME CAN CRACK AT THE STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND/OR THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS CAN FRACTURE.
The risk
THE STEERING GEAR CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE FRAME AND REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTING BOLTS. IF THE FRAME IS ALREADY CRACKED, THE STEERING GEAR WELD NUTS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Dodge Dakota | 1988, 1989, 1990 |
Components: STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Dakota | 1988 | 55 | 3 |
| Dodge Dakota | 1989 | 63 | 3 |
| Dodge Dakota | 1990 | 63 | 3 |
Other steering recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the steering; CHRYSLER CORPORATION filed 640 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