# NHTSA recall 03V527000

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: 03V527000
- Manufacturer's number: 03062
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Reported: 2003\-12\-11
- Owners notified: 2004\-02\-05
- Component: STEERING:RACK AND PINION
- Units potentially affected: 750283

## What is wrong

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY.   THESE RETAINERS 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 ON FEBRUARY 5, 2004.    OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1\-866\-608\-8080; CHEVROLET AT 1\-800\-630\-2438; OLDSMOBILE AT 1\-800\-630\-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1\-800\-620\-7668.


## Notes

GM RECALL NO. 03062.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO 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 BUICK REGAL](/makes/buick/regal/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-10\-31.
- [1997 BUICK REGAL](/makes/buick/regal/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-08\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1998 BUICK REGAL](/makes/buick/regal/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-04\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1997 CHEVROLET LUMINA](/makes/chevrolet/lumina/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1998 CHEVROLET LUMINA](/makes/chevrolet/lumina/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-04\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU](/makes/chevrolet/malibu/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-10\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU](/makes/chevrolet/malibu/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-06\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1997 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO](/makes/chevrolet/monte-carlo/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1998 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO](/makes/chevrolet/monte-carlo/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-04\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS](/makes/oldsmobile/cutlass/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-10\-01 to 1997\-07\-31.
- [1998 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS](/makes/oldsmobile/cutlass/1998/recalls.md). Built 1997\-06\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1996 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME](/makes/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-06\-30.
- [1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME](/makes/oldsmobile/cutlass-supreme/1997/recalls.md). Built 1996\-04\-01 to 1997\-05\-31.
- [1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE](/makes/oldsmobile/intrigue/1998/recalls.md). Built 1996\-11\-01 to 1997\-10\-31.
- [1996 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX](/makes/pontiac/grand-prix/1996/recalls.md). Built 1996\-01\-01 to 1996\-04\-30.

## Investigated as EA03019

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.

- EA03019: Engineering analysis, opened 2003\-09\-15, closed 2003\-12\-18. 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/03V527000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V527000/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/03V527000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/03V527000)

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