The defect
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
The risk
AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1996 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1996 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Skylark | 1996 | 85 | 4 |
| Pontiac Grand Am | 1996 | 450 | 4 |
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.
| 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 |
| 96V154000 20 Aug 1996 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996