The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A LOWER THAN SPECIFIED TORQUE ON ALL THREE OF THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME ATTACHMENT BOLTS. THE BOLTS CAN LOOSEN OVER TIME ALLOWING THE STEERING GEAR TO MOVE. THIS LOOSENING CAN RESULT IN SOME UNRESPONSIVE STEERING FEEL AND SOME NOISE TO THE DRIVER.
The risk
IF THIS CONDITION IS IGNORED, THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME CAN WEAR AND/OR FATIGUE THE ATTACHING BOLTS TO THE POINT OF BREAKAGE OR THE BOLTS BACKING OUT. IF ALL THE BOLTS BREAK OR BACK OUT, THE STEERING GEAR WOULD SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL RETORQUE THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME BOLTS TO PROPER SPECIFICATIONS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999 |
| GMC Sierra | 1999 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado | 1999 | 1,660 | 5 |
| GMC Sierra | 1999 | 600 | 5 |
Other steering recalls in 1998
19 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the steering; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 98V331000 22 Dec 1998 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 98V324001 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V305001 15 Dec 1998 | DAEWOO MOTOR DE PUERTO RICO |
| 98V320000 15 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V305000 1 Dec 1998 | DAEWOO MOTOR AMERICA |
| 98V297000 17 Nov 1998 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 98V237000 29 Sept 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V175000 31 Jul 1998 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998