# NHTSA recall 02V286000 A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups. - Published by: NHTSA \(United States\) - Campaign number: 02V286000 - Manufacturer's number: 02049 - Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP. - Reported: 2002\-11\-04 - Owners notified: 2003\-01\-24 - Component: STEERING:RACK AND PINION - Units potentially affected: 1159156 ## What is wrong CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. ## What can happen IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES EVEN FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL REQUIRE MUCH HIGHER EFFORT TO TURN LEFT AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TURN THE WHEEL AS MUCH AS INTENDED. WITH THE MAXIMUM PINION SHAFT MOVEMENT, WHICH REQUIRES INTERNAL GEAR COMPONENT DAMAGE, THE DRIVER CAN ENCOUNTER HIGH RESISTANCE TO TURNING LEFT, FOLLOWED BY UNINTENDED POWER ASSIST TO THE RIGHT. IN ANY OF THESE CONDITIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR. ## The remedy DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1\-800\-222\-1020, PONTIAC AT 1\-800\-762\-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1\-800\-442\-6537. ## Notes GM RECALL NO. 02049.ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\). ## Vehicles this campaign lists - [1996 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-07\-31. - [1997 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-07\-31. - [1998 CHEVROLET CAVALIER](/makes/chevrolet/cavalier/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-04\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. - [1996 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV](/makes/chevrolet/lumina-apv/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-06\-30. - [1997 CHEVROLET VENTURE](/makes/chevrolet/venture/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-08\-31. - [1998 CHEVROLET VENTURE](/makes/chevrolet/venture/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-06\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. - [1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE](/makes/oldsmobile/silhouette/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-06\-30. - [1997 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE](/makes/oldsmobile/silhouette/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-08\-31. - [1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE](/makes/oldsmobile/silhouette/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-06\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. - [1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX](/makes/pontiac/grand-prix/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-03\-01 to 1997\-06\-30. - [1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX](/makes/pontiac/grand-prix/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-03\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. - [1996 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-07\-31. - [1997 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-07\-01 to 1997\-07\-31. - [1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE](/makes/pontiac/sunfire/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-04\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. - [1996 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT](/makes/pontiac/trans-sport/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-06\-30. - [1997 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT](/makes/pontiac/trans-sport/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-08\-31. - [1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT](/makes/pontiac/trans-sport/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-06\-01 to 1997\-10\-31. ## Investigated as EA02003 This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected. - EA02003: Engineering analysis, opened 2002\-04\-04, closed 2002\-12\-10. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. STEERING; STEERING:RACK AND PINION. From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V286000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V286000/investigations) ## Check a VIN - [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) - [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng) JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V286000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V286000) [Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2002V286000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F02V286000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2002V286000)