NHTSA recall 96V249000
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 | 96V249000 |
| Manufacturer | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| Reported | 1996-12-17 |
| Owners notified | 1997-01-06 |
| Component | STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR |
| Units potentially affected | 424 |
What is wrong
THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT WAS NOT PROPERLY TIGHTENED DURING ASSEMBLY.
What can happen
AN UNDERTORQUED PINCH BOLT CAN RATTLE AND CAUSE LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IF THE PINCH BOLT BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND, IF NECESSARY, TIGHTEN THE BOLT TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN DURING JANUARY 1997. NOTE: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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
| 1996 BUICK SKYLARK | Built 1996-07-01 to 1996-07-31. |
|---|---|
| 1996 PONTIAC GRAND AM | Built 1996-07-01 to 1996-07-31. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| 971101733209 | 1998-03-30. Service bulletin. EXPERIENCING A SQUEAK/SQUAWK NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *YC |
|---|---|
| 96074 | 1997-07-17. Service bulletin. RECALL 97V-037 - GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 1996 BUICK SKYLARK AND PONTIAC GRAND AM MODEL VEHICLES - THE STEERING COLUMN LOWER PINCH BOLT MAY NOT FHAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO SPECIFIED TORQUE - AN UNDER-TORQUED PINCH BOLT COULD RESULT IN A RATTLE AND LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN - IF THE PINCH BOLT WERE BACKED OUT OF THE JOINT COMPLETELY, ROTATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT AGAINST THE CONNECTOR IN HIGH EFFORT STEERING MANEUVERS COULD CAUSE INCREASING LOOSNESS IN THE STEERING SYSTEM AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING AND A CRASH - TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION OCCURRING, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE STEERING COLUMN PINCH BOLT FOR CORRECT TORQUE AND IF NECESSARY, TIGHTENTHE BOLT TO SHE SPECIFIC TORQUE - RECALL 97V-037. *TW |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.