RoadVitals

1997 Oldsmobile Aurora Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Sep 17, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 125 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Oldsmobile Aurora submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Sep 17, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. THE CONTACT WAS TURNING IN REVERSE APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD POP. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN DISCOVERED A BOLT WAS MISSING FROM THE STEERING RACK TO THE FRAME. THE RACK AND PINION HOUSING WAS ALSO FRACTURED AND THERE WERE SEVERAL RUSTED BOLTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
10356147
Incident
Aug 17, 2010
Mileage
150,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 4, 2009

1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, I HAVE NOTICED SOME "PLAY" IN THE TILT STEERING COLUMN. MY RESEARCH HAS REVEALED AN INHERENT PROBLEM THAT THESE MODEL OF CARS HAVE HAD WITH THE PIVOTS IN THE STEERING-TILT MECHANISM BACKING THEMSELVES OUT. ONE DAY I CLIMBED INTO THE CAR TO BACK DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE WHOLE STEERING ASSEMBLY JUST PLOPPED INTO MY LAP. I SUSPECTED THE PIVOTS WERE TO BLAME, SO I BEGAN REMOVAL OF THE JUNK AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN, ENOUGH TO GET A VIEW OF THE PIVOTS, AND TO MY DISMAY, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PIVOT ON ONE SIDE HAD WORKED LOOSE, BUT THE CAST METAL THAT SURROUNDS THE PIVOT ON THE OTHER SIDE HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY. I CAN THINK OF NO OTHER REMEDY THAN TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE COLUMN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279380
Incident
Jun 14, 2009
Mileage
102,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 9, 2005

WHEN I TRY TO START MY VEHICLE I AM FORCED AT TIMES TO SIT AND WAIT 3 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR WILL START DUE TO THE PASS-KEY THEFT-DETERRENT SYSTEM. I HAVE REPLACED MY KEY AND CLEANED THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH ELECTRONIC CONTACT CLEANER. NOTHING HELPED. SOME DAYS / WEEKS / MONTHS ARE BETTER THEN OTHERS. THE MAX TIME I HAD TO SIT AND WAIT WAS 12 MINUTES. HEAVEN FORBID I HAVE TO DRIVE AWAY IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10112759
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF. DEALER INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053878
Incident
Jan 13, 2004
Mileage
117,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 30, 2004

STEERING WHEEL ALMOST COMPLETELY OFF IN MY SON'S HAND.. SERVICE MANAGER SAID THE CAR SHOULD OF NEVER BEEN SOLD. THIS DEFAULT COULD OF KILLED MY SON. THIS CAR STAYED IN THE SHOP MORE THAN IT WAS DROVE. ONE PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER. I GAVE THE CAR BACK TO KINGS NISSAN WHEN ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH WIRING AND FUSE CAME UP. MECHANIC SAID THE CAR WOULD END UP CATCHING ON FIRE. I HAD ENOUGH. THIS COMPANY IS VERY RUDE AND DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS OR COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID
10056207
Incident
Mar 5, 2002
Mileage
68,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jan 13, 2004

No narrative was included with this report.

NHTSA ID
10053038
Incident
Dec 23, 2003
Mileage
115,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 24, 2003

LOSS OF ABILITY TO STEER TO LEFT IN 1997 AURORA

NHTSA ID
10039491
Incident
Sep 7, 2003
Mileage
97,675 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 27, 2003

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED, HOWEVER THE FRONT TIRES DID NOT TURN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10014604
Incident
Mar 26, 2003
Steering
Filed Dec 10, 2002

ECONSUMER STATES WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. TS

NHTSA ID
8024055
Incident
Nov 14, 2002
Body & structureSteeringVisibility
Filed Aug 4, 2001

LISA, NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
749833
Incident
Mar 28, 1997

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .