The defect
THE STEERING WHEEL ARMATURE STAMPING CAN CRACK AND SEPARATE FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
The risk
IF THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATES FROM THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF CONTROL CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING WHEEL FOR ARMATURE CRACKS IN THE CENTER HUB ATTACHMENT AREA. ANY STEERING WHEELS SHOWING CRACKS WILL BE REPLACED. ALL OTHER VEHICLES WILL HAVE A REINFORCEMENT PLATE INSTALLED TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL SEPARATION IN THE EVENT CRACKING OCCURS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrysler Town And Country | 1991 | 25 | 8 |
| Chrysler Town And Country | 1992 | 135 | 8 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1991 | 617 | 9 |
| Dodge Caravan | 1992 | 913 | 9 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 1991 | 129 | 6 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan | 1992 | 255 | 6 |
| Dodge Shadow | 1991 | 89 | 5 |
| Dodge Shadow | 1992 | 73 | 4 |
| Plymouth Grand Voyager | 1991 | 164 | 6 |
| Plymouth Grand Voyager | 1992 | 244 | 6 |
| Plymouth Sundance | 1991 | 30 | 4 |
| Plymouth Sundance | 1992 | 49 | 4 |
| Plymouth Voyager | 1991 | 520 | 8 |
| Plymouth Voyager | 1992 | 701 | 9 |
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. |
| 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 |
| 96V154000 20 Aug 1996 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996