NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE01038
Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · STEERING
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
STEERING RACK AND PINION
ODI HAS RECEIVED 200 COMPLAINTS FROMT CONSUMERS AND 1,238 FROM GM ALLEGING FAILURE OR LOCKUP OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT (R&P).THIS ALLEGED CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN RESULT.GM HAS REPORTED SIX CRASHES IN WHICH EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES RANGING FROM BRUISES, AIRBAG BURN, SEAT BELT ABRASION, FACIAL INJURY, NECK AND BACK PAIN.ALL CRASHES WERE SINGLE VEHICLE CRASHES.GM STATES THAT ONE POSSIBLE FAILURE MODE IS FAILURE OF THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE R&P.AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OPENED TO DETERMINE IF A SAFETY DEFECT TREND EXISTS.
An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE01038
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- STEERING
- Opened
- Nov 14, 2001
- Closed
- Apr 4, 2002
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
7 model years across 7 models
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Venture
- Oldsmobile Cutlass
- Oldsmobile Intrigue
- Oldsmobile Silhouette
- Pontiac Grand Prix
- Pontiac Trans Sport
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.